O'Fallon Man Given Probation For Role in Yale Tailgate Death

A 22-year-old O'Fallon man, and student at Yale University, has gotten a special form of probation after the truck he was driving struck and killed a woman an injured two others during a tailgate at a Yale and Harvard University football game in 2011, ESPN reports. 

According to the report, written by the Associated Press, Brendan Ross, of O'Fallon, was driving a rental truck carrying beer kegs through a popular tailgating area before the game when witnesses saw the vehicle turn a corner and speed up. 

Nancy Barry, a 30-year-old woman from Salem, MA, was killed in the incident. 

The program, the report said, is for first-time offenders whose charges are dismissed if they successfully complete probation.

“Brendan Ross is an outstanding young man who was involved in a tragic accident,” Ross’ attorney, William Dow, said in a statement in the Yale Daily News. “He will emerge from this without a criminal record, but the memory of that tragedy remains. Brendan and his family have extended their condolences to Ms. Barry’s family when the accident occurred. Ms. Barry remains in their prayers.”

The Yale Daily News went on to report Ross passed a field sobriety test at the scene of the accident and later turned himself in for arrest in May 2012 after police compelted an investigation.