Friend charged with providing beer to fan who fell from bleachers at Pirates game: Police
A Pennsylvania man faces charges for allegedly providing alcohol to an underage baseball fan who was critically hurt in a 20-foot fall at PNC Park in Pittsburgh last month.
The fan, 20-year-old Kavan Markwood, fell from the bleachers onto the field during the seventh inning of the Pirates-Cubs game on April 20, officials said. He reportedly drank two beers inside the stadium, according to a criminal complaint.
Ethan Kirkwood, 21, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, now faces criminal charges for allegedly providing the alcohol, Pennsylvania State Police said Tuesday.
MORE: Man critically hurt in fall from bleachers at Pirates-Cubs game is identified
He has been charged with two counts of selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor, court records show. ABC News has reached out to Kirkwood for comment but has not received a response.
Police reviewed receipts and video footage from PNC Park that showed Kirkwood purchased two 24-ounce cans of Miller Lite shortly before 7 p.m. at the April 20 game, according to the complaint.
He is then seen on the video walking away from the bar area with Markwood and two women, with both men holding a can, according to the complaint.
Over an hour later, Kirkwood is seen walking to the bar area and then walking to the seated area of the ballpark holding two cans of alcohol, according to the complaint.
After Markwood fell from the bleachers, Kirkwood "is then seen handing a can to a female who throws it in the trash and jumping over a railing and then jumped on the field to help his friend," the complaint states.
In interviews with police following the incident, Markwood's girlfriend said the 20-year-old drank two beers inside the park, and Kirkwood allegedly admitted to purchasing the alcohol, according to the complaint.
A preliminary hearing in the case has been scheduled for June 23.
MORE: Man who fell from bleachers at Pirates game takes 1st steps: 'A huge win'
Markwood is slowly recovering and took his first steps since the fall earlier this month, according to his girlfriend's mother.
"He still has a long way to go -- he's dealing with a broken neck, clavicle, and back so there are plenty of obstacles ahead," his girlfriend's mom, Jennifer Phillips, wrote on his GoFundMe page on May 6. "But he's showing real strength, and we're staying hopeful for a smooth recovery."
The Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety said the "incident is being treated as accidental."
Amy Thompson, who was sitting next to Markwood at the game, told Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE, "As he jumped out of his seat to celebrate, it appeared that he had his hands on the fence in front of us, which I had done several times during the game, as well. I think the momentum from him jumping up in his seat and the way he grabbed the rail just seemed like he catapulted himself over the railing."
Friend charged with providing beer to fan who fell from bleachers at Pirates game: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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