A grieving mother whose son was killed in a car crash as he travelled to a Kansas City Chiefs football game has revealed the first heartbreaking words she spoke after waking up in intensive care.
Mom, Megan Barnett, 41, and her son, Connor Barba, from Oklahoma were on their way to the game on what was their first trip together in years, celebrating his 18th birthday, when they were involved in a horrific smash that saw Connor lose his life.
His mother remembered very little about the accident but when she woke up in the ICU her first thoughts were of her son – but she had a feeling that something terrible had happened.
‘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.’
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.
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!!’