CANTON, Oh. — Friends, family and members of the North Canton, Ohio community came together Sunday more than a year after a 23-year-old former softball player was killed in a car crash on Route 8 in Hampton Township.
Kaitlyn Marie Eckelberry, 23, was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Feb. 22, 2020, after the car she was driving was struck by another vehicle on William Flynn Highway.
[ ORIGINAL STORY: Woman dead, 1 critically hurt after head-on crash on Route 8 ]
Eckelberry had just earned a bachelor’s degree in 2018 and a master’s in physician assistance science in 2019 from Erie’s Gannon University, according to her obituary. She was working as an assistant softball coach at Chatham University at the time of the crash.
According to Channel 11 News’ exchange partners at TribLIVE, Madisyn O’Connor, 24, of Butler, was charged with homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, DUI and related charges. A trial in that case is scheduled for May 12.
A criminal complaint filed in the case said O’Connor’s SUV crossed the double yellow line and struck a car driven by Eckelberry head-on. Medical records show her blood-alcohol level was 0.257%, more than three times the legal limit. A rapid drug screen tested positive for marijuana as well.
On April 9, 2021, Eckelberry’s father filed a lawsuit against O’Connor and the two bars -- Jay’s Mount Royal Inn in Shaler and Jay’s Other Place on William Flynn Highway -- where the family claims she had been drinking just before the crash.
According to the lawsuit, O’Connor was “visibly intoxicated” at both bars but was still served alcohol.
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