An Arlington husband and wife who spent years working to grow the sport of bowling across the United States were killed Saturday night in a violent multi-vehicle crash on State Highway 171 near Hillsboro.
Zachary and Katie Barton both 39 died after a five-vehicle chain-reaction collision near County Road 4223 roughly halfway between Hillsboro and Cleburne according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The crash was triggered when a Ford Fiesta driver suspected of being intoxicated attempted to pass a truck and rear-ended a farm tractor hauling equipment. Debris from the tractor scattered into oncoming traffic and struck several vehicles including the Bartons’ Ford F-150.
After the initial impact the Bartons exited their truck along with a 12-year-old from another vehicle. All three were then struck by an additional vehicle. Katie Barton was pronounced dead at the scene while Zachary Barton was transported to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The 12-year-old child remains hospitalized in critical condition. The suspected drunk driver was also taken to a hospital and DPS said charges are pending as the investigation continues.
Both Zachary and Katie worked at the United States Bowling Congress headquartered at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington. Zachary had been with the organization for 14 years and Katie for seven years according to USBC spokesperson Jason Overstreet.
“They were both involved in membership tournaments working with kids not just here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area but at events around the country” Overstreet said. “They really touched a lot of lives.”
The couple leaves behind two daughters both under the age of six. The bowling community nationwide has been flooded with tributes and expressions of grief since news of their deaths spread.
“Everybody that knew them is in a state of shock and disbelief” Overstreet said. “It all feels so unfair.”
The United States Bowling Congress said it plans to work alongside the Barton family to provide support in the months ahead. Friends and colleagues are also organizing a fundraiser for the family with details expected to be announced once arrangements are finalized.
Overstreet described the couple as people who genuinely cared about others which he said makes the loss even harder to process. The outpouring of support from bowling communities across the country has been described as remarkable though the grief remains overwhelming for all who knew them.
