Former Scarborough track star dies in Connecticut crash

UConn senior Zachary Barry, 22, dies in Connecticut crash

A former Scarborough student-athlete and University of Connecticut senior, Zachary Barry, was pronounced dead after a vehicle collision in Mansfield, Connecticut, on the night of Tuesday, September 12. He was 22 years old.

According to the Connecticut State Police, Barry was driving a Volvo westbound on Hunting Lodge Road when the vehicle veered into the eastbound lane and struck a tree near 12:20 a.m. The crash left him trapped in the car. Emergency crews removed him from the vehicle and transported him to Hartford Hospital, where he died at approximately 2:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 13.

Barry had been a standout athlete in Scarborough. He earned All‑State honors as a cross‑country runner and was a first‑team all‑star in the South Maine Athletic Association (SMAA). During his time at UConn, he competed in both indoor and outdoor track, and was a member of the men’s track and field team from 2022 through 2024. Barry was a senior studying plant science with a specialization in turfgrass and was active in a fraternity. Over the summer, he interned with a golf club in New Jersey, where he worked on course conditioning and turf health management.

The Dean of Students’ Office at UConn released a statement to the campus community on Wednesday. “It is a challenging time for the UConn community,” the statement read. “Support is available as we navigate this loss together.” The office added, “Our deepest condolences go out to Zachary’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Barry’s death has left the UConn community, his family and friends, and the Scarborough community in mourning. The university is offering resources to those affected by the tragedy.