A mother who tragically lost her son in a car accident while they were en route to a Kansas City Chiefs football game has shared the harrowing first words she uttered upon regaining consciousness in the intensive care unit.
Megan Barnett, 41, and her son, Connor Barba, from Oklahoma, were headed to the game to celebrate his 18th birthday, marking their first trip together in years, when a devastating collision occurred resulting in Connor’s untimely death.
Having little recollection of the incident, Megan woke up in the ICU consumed by thoughts of her son, though she couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that something dreadful had transpired.
‘I was in my room, and I don’t remember who I asked, but I just said, “Connor didn’t make it, did he?”‘ Barnett said.
The sickening reality means she is now without her only child after he died at the scene of the crash.
Barnett says she is still coming to terms with what happened and relying on family, friends and faith to pull her through.
‘It’s unfair, in my opinion, but I’m not going to argue God’s plan. God had a plan for Connor, and I can’t be mad at it,’ Barnett said through tears to KOCO. ‘I can’t be mad. Can’t be angry. I know where he is, and to me, that is all that matters,’ Barnett said.
‘He had that big, huge bright smile that lit up a room. He was a genuine and kind person that would go out of his way to help anybody.’
Mom, Megan Barnett, woke up in the ICU after a head-on crash, and asked, “Connor didn’t make it, did he?”‘ she revealed
The pair had been on their way to a Kansas City Chiefs game after Barnett surprised her son with tickets for his 18th birthday
Connor Barba, 18, of Norman, was driving with his mother Megan Barnett, 41, to Kansas City for a football game when Joseph Savage, 45, crashed into their car in a head-on collision
Aside from the mental anguish Barnett is healing from a host of physical injuries including a broken foot, vertebra, ribs, sternum, collar bone and in her face.
She was finally allowed to return home after spending three weeks in the ICU and several surgeries.
‘[Our day out] was supposed to be super fun, super great. We talked about it every single day. He was on countdown. He was ready to go. “Where are we staying? What are we doing? Have you picked out a place to eat?” He was so excited,’ Barnett said.
‘The last thing I remember is him putting his bag from his truck here into my car. I don’t remember any of it,’ she explained.
The deadly crash occurred on a small country two-lane road when a car coming in the opposite direction crossed over the center line slammed head-on into the car Connor and his mother were traveling in.
Connor along with the other driver, Joseph Savage, 45, of Coffeyville, Kansas both died at the scene.
Connor’s uncle Colin said the teen boy who was driving at the time swerved to avoid Savage’s vehicle and slammed on the brakes, causing his side to take the brunt end of the impact.
Colin credits his nephew’s quick thinking as the reason his mom survived.
Aside from the mental anguish Barnett, 41, is healing from a host of physical injuries including a broken foot, vertebra, ribs, sternum, collar bone and in her face
Connor, with his dad, was remembered as an ‘outstanding young man’ who had a ‘lot of light’
Following the crash, the next thing Barnett remembered was waking up in intensive care unit in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A GoFundMe set up for the family has raised more than $133,000.
‘I don’t know if I have the words to express my gratitude for people, for people I don’t even know,’ Barnett said.
Colin said he will remember Barba as an ‘outstanding young man’ who had a ‘lot of light.’
‘He had an incredible amount of joy and an incredible smile,’ he told KOCO. ‘Especially for his age, he was incredibly mature and respectful.’
Barba’s father also took to Facebook to post several photos of his son since his passing, writing in a post: ‘He had the hugest heart of anyone I have ever known! Love you Connor Barba!!’
