Mother and son involved in fatal accident on their way to the Bucs vs. Chiefs game for their birthday party

(Gray News) – A mother and her son were involved in a fatal accident last weekend while on their way to Kansas City to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Chiefs.

Megan Barnett surprised her son, 18-year-old Connor Barba, with tickets before his birthday so he could see his favorite player – Baker Mayfield, KOCO reported.

According to Kansas State Police, the couple was involved in a head-on collision with a Chevy Camaro on their way to the game.

Barba and the driver of the Camaro were killed in the accident.

According to a GoFundMe set up for the family, Barnett is in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Barba’s uncle told KOCO that it was the 18-year-old’s quick reaction in the driver’s seat that likely saved his mother’s life.

“Connor kind of turned right and hit the brakes as hard as he could,” his uncle told KOCO. “When Connor did that, he took the full force of the Camero’s car.”

According to ESPN, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers donated $10,000 to Barba’s family.

“We send our love to Connor Barba’s family as they grieve this tragic loss,” the Buccaneers organization posted on X and shared GoFundMe. “Join us in supporting Connor’s family during this challenging time.”

“I feel humbled and humbled because I know Connor was such a big fan. I would have liked to have met him,” Mayfield, the Bucs quarterback, said in a statement to ESPN. “As a new parent, this really hits me. I realize there are no words that can truly provide comfort at a time like this, but I hope that Megan makes a full recovery and that she draws strength from the outpouring of support she is receiving from across the country.”

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