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Sports World Pays Tribute To Bob Barry, Jr.: Oklahoma Sportscaster Dead In Tragic Accident [Video]

By Maat van Uitert
Published on: 11:24 PST, Jun 26, 2015

Bob Barry, Jr., a sports director for KFOR in Oklahoma City, was killed tragically in a car accident Saturday afternoon. He’s being mourned by the sports world, with fans and colleagues paying tribute to Bob over social media.

Barry was riding his motor scooter southbound on North May Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, when, according to police, a 26-year-old driver named Gustavo Gutierrez-Castillo made an illegal U-Turn in front of Bob. Barry wasn’t wearing a helmet when he was hit, reports News Oxy.

Gutierrez-Castillo allegedly doesn’t have a license to drive, according to News Oxy. Authorities say Bob Barry, Jr. struck the driver’s side of the car, and was thrown 20 feet as a result of the impact. He was rushed to Oklahoma University’s trauma center, where he was pronounced dead.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, police arrested the driver of the car that hit Bob, and he’s reportedly being charged with manslaughter, driving without a state license, and causing an injury accident. He also allegedly was in possession of cocaine.

Fans and colleagues alike mourned Bob Barry, Jr. on social media, and his public memorial service was widely attended by thousands, according to KOHK-TV Oklahoma City. The many local fans and representatives from sports teams that attended his public memorial service Friday took to Twitter to pay tribute to Bob.

“Memorial service for @bbjsports was 2.5 hours of the best tribute I have ever seen. We should all live life like Bob Barry Jr. #hewasaclassic” and “Bob Barry Jr.’s service was the most beautiful I’ve ever attended. Rest in peace BBJ!”

Local football team, the Oklahoma Sooners, publicly celebrated Barry’s life, posting “Bob Barry Jr. was like family to ALL Oklahomans” and “Great services for Bob Barry Jr. It made me laugh, tear up and made me recognize the world needs more people like @bbjsports #GodBless” on Twitter, showing how valuable Barry’s contributions to the local sports community was.

Oklahoma State also paid tribute to the fallen sportscaster, tweeting, “#okstate will honor the life of Bob Barry, Jr., by flying Stillwater campus flags at half-staff tomorrow. #RIPBBJ.”

“I can tell you one thing, the angels are happy”, said former Oklahoma State football coach and WWLS co-host Pat Jones about Bob Barry, Jr., according to KOHK-TV Oklahoma City. “They’re smiling because they’ve welcomed home the nicest guy any of us have ever known.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWZYd8bIHrs

[Image from YouTube]

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