Pirates Fan’s Drunken Fall from Stands Sparks Alcohol Charges at PNC Park

In a wild turn of events at PNC Park, a 21-year-old, Ethan Kirkwood, faces charges for supplying alcohol to a minor, 20-year-old former college football player Kavan Markwood, who took a dramatic tumble from the stands onto the field during a Pittsburgh Pirates game last month. Surveillance footage captured the pair with alcohol multiple times, and Kirkwood reportedly admitted to buying the booze for Markwood.

The incident unfolded in the seventh inning of a Pirates’ matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Markwood, caught up in the excitement of a Pirates’ rally, reportedly stripped off his shirt, doused himself in beer, and then plummeted over 20 feet onto the right field warning track, flipping multiple times in the air. The fall left him with severe injuries, including a broken neck, clavicle, back, and a swollen hand—what he grimly described as "broken everything."

Rushed to Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma unit, Markwood was in critical condition but has since stabilized, though he faces a long recovery. "I can’t really sleep. I have a lot of back pain," he shared, planning to ice his injuries at home. Pittsburgh Public Safety deemed the fall an accident, but the incident raises questions about fan safety and alcohol consumption at sporting events.

Markwood, who played Division II football at Walsh University and Wheeling University, appeared in four games for Wheeling in 2023. His athletic background didn’t spare him from the consequences of a night that spiraled out of control, leaving him to piece together both his body and his story.