A wild night at a Pittsburgh Pirates game has now led to criminal charges. Authorities say 21-year-old Ethan Kirkwood is facing legal trouble after allegedly providing alcohol to 20-year-old Kavan Markwood — the fan who made headlines last month after falling over 20 feet from the stands onto the field during a game.
Markwood, a former Division II football player, reportedly plunged onto the right field warning track during the seventh inning of the Pirates vs. Cubs matchup. Witnesses described the moment as shocking, with Markwood flipping several times through the air before crash-landing near the outfield.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Kirkwood and Markwood with alcoholic beverages multiple times that night. According to a criminal complaint cited by WTAE, Kirkwood admitted to purchasing the alcohol for the underage Markwood. Pittsburgh police have yet to publicly comment on the case.
The aftermath of the fall left Markwood with serious injuries… including a broken neck, clavicle, and back. He was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital and was initially listed in critical condition. Despite the severity of the incident, Markwood recently told TribLive that he’s “all right” and focused on recovery, though he’s still battling intense pain and sleep issues.
“I basically broke everything,” he said, also mentioning a swollen hand. “I think when I get home, I’ll just put ice on it.”
Pittsburgh Public Safety has categorized the incident as accidental. Eyewitnesses told Tribune-Review that Markwood had taken off his shirt and poured beer on himself during a Pirates rally before the fall.
Markwood previously played college football at Walsh University and Wheeling University, where he appeared in four games in 2023.
