Connor Barba’s mother had surprised him with tickets to a Monday Night Football game to watch the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—a special gift for his upcoming birthday.

Megan Barnett and her son, Connor Barba were on their way to Kansas City for a thrilling night of sport. But tragically, their journey took a devastating turn when they were involved in a head-on collision.

Mother and son were looking forward to the Monday Night Football game on November 4, 2024, but for different reasons. According to Colin Barnett, who is Connor’s uncle and Megan’s brother, the 18-year-old was eager to see Baker Mayfield play.

Meanwhile, Megan wanted to see the Chiefs play. Colin speculated her reason may be motivated by the Taylor Swift connection as the pop singer is dating Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce.

So, the 41-year-old surprised her son with tickets as a gift for his birthday, which would be celebrated next week. “He was shocked. It was not on his radar,” Colin said.

The excited pair left their home in Norman, Oklahoma for Arrowhead Stadium but tragically, they never reached the game. Just before 4:00 p.m., while driving on a narrow, two-lane road, a Chevy Camaro crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with their Hyundai SUV.

As per Kansas State Police, Connor, who was behind the wheel, attempted to avoid the impact by swerving right and braking hard. His actions, however, meant he absorbed the full force of the collision from the Camaro.

Nevertheless, these quick actions by Connor are what likely saved Megan’s life. Sadly, he and the driver of the Camaro, 45-year-old Joseph Savage of Coffeyville, were pronounced dead on the scene. The accident left Megan with severe injuries that now have her fighting for recovery in the ICU in Tulsa.

Her path to healing will be long and complex, with extensive medical care required to address her injuries. Colin shared that she was stabilizing, so the family hoped that she would soon be moved out of the ICU.

Family members are devastated by the loss of Connor and they also worry about Megan. Colin mourned the incredible young man they had lost, “He was an outstanding young man. He had a lot of light. He had an incredible amount of joy and an incredible smile. He loved to laugh and joke.”

Connor had graduated college last May and was working towards his future. Colin revealed, “He was a very hard worker. He embraced that and was proud of that, and he was on his way to trade school to find a career on that path. He had just moved into his own apartment, with a roommate, following high school.”

As the eldest sibling, he took it upon himself to look out for his younger siblings, fulfilling this role with dedication and care. Colin noted that Connor also looked after Megan, who raised him as a single parent. He embraced his role, protecting and supporting her. Connor went above and beyond out of love and commitment.

Colin added that Connor generally loved football but was a “big time Baker fan.” A spokesperson of the Buccaneers shared that Baker and his wife plan to contact Connor’s family. They would also donate $10,000 to help cater for the memorial fees and medical bills.

Baker, who is in his second season at Buccaneers, noted, “My thoughts and prayers go out to Megan and her family as they deal with this heartbreaking loss. I am honored and humbled knowing that Connor was such a big fan. I would have loved to have met him.”

Baker acknowledged the difficulty of finding adequate words in such a painful time. However, he extended heartfelt hopes for Megan’s full recovery. The 29-year-old expressed a wish that the widespread support from across the country might offer her strength in this challenging period.

Now, friends and family are rallying to stand by Megan, who faces not only the immense emotional weight of loss but also significant financial burdens for medical bills and funeral expenses.

They have opened a GoFundMe account where contributions no matter the size, can be sent. The well-wishers have raised over $100,000.

Colin said the family appreciates the support and compassion they have gotten so far during this heartbreaking time. Aside from his mom and uncle, Connor has left behind his sister, father, stepmother, and two stepsiblings, all of whom he adored.