Mom, son involved in fatal crash on the way to Bucs vs. Chiefs game for birthday celebration

(Gray News) – A mom and her son were involved in a fatal crash last weekend as they were on their way to Kansas City to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Chiefs .

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

On the way to the game, the pair was involved in a head-on collision with a Chevy Camaro, according to Kansas State Police.

Barba and the driver of the Camaro died in the crash.

Barnett is in the ICU at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to a GoFundMe set up for the family.

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 swerved right in a way and slammed on the brakes as hard as he could," his uncle told KOCO . "When Connor did that, he took the full brunt of the car of the Camero."

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have donated $10,000 to Barba's family, according to ESPN .

"Sending our love to Connor Barba's family as they grieve this tragic loss," the Buccaneers organization posted on X , sharing the GoFundMe. "Join us in supporting Connor's family through this challenging time."

"I am honored and humbled knowing that Connor was such a big fan. I would have loved to have met him," Mayfield, the Bucs quarterback, said in a statement issued to ESPN . "As a new parent, this really hits home for me. I realize there are no words that can provide true comfort at a time such as this, but I hope that Megan makes a full recovery and that she draws strength from the outpouring of support she is receiving from around the country."