Former UConn college track athlete, 22, dies in car accident

Dubai: Zachary Barry, who studied at the University of Connecticut (UConn), has died at the age of 22 following a car crash in Mansfield, Connecticut, United States.

Barry, a senior from Scarborough, Maine, was studying plant science at UConn, with a focus on turfgrass science. He joined the university in 2022 and was part of its men’s track and field programme for two years until 2024.

His career at UConn was followed by a growing interest in golf course management. During the summer, Barry interned at Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey, where he worked on course conditioning and turf health management.

According to Portland Press Herald, the crash happened around 12:20am on Tuesday when Barry was travelling west on Hunting Lodge Road. His vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane before hitting a tree as per the Connecticut State Police.

The emergency staff had to extricate Barry from the vehicle before he was taken to Hartford Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said he was pronounced dead at 2:43am on Wednesday.

The university community was informed of his death by Dean of Students Fany DeJesús Hannon.

“Our deepest condolences go out to Zachary’s family and friends during this difficult time,” Hannon said while also adding how challenging the time is for the UConn community.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.