Wreck in Dublin Takes Life of 24-year-old; Former Buckeye Star Arrested for Manslaughter
Accused Former Ohio State Football Player Kirk Barton Following Fatal Car Collision Resulting in One Mortality
Let's get straight to the point: Kirk Barton, once a standout offensive lineman for Ohio State, is slapped with a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide following a devastating accident that claimed the life of Ethan Perry, a 24-year-old resident of Dublin, OH. This tragic incident unfolded on a chilly Saturday morning when Barton, behind the wheel of a tricked-out truck, barreled down the road at an alarming speed, swerving dangerously onto the wrong side before authenticating to the proper lane and smashing into Perry's vehicle[1][3]. The impact was so brutal that Perry was pronounced dead at the scene itself. Barton, who emerged with injuries that luckily weren't life-threatening, was rushed to the hospital[1][4].
Dublin police have accused Barton of driving at an excessive speed, causing the wreck. Barton confessed to consuming alcoholic beverages before hopping behind the wheel. His eyes glazed over, giving him a vacant stare as he was taken into custody. The county court arraigned Barton on a second-degree felony charge of aggravated vehicular homicide/manslaughter while tipsy. If found guilty, he risks a minimum of 2 to 8 years in prison[1][3][4]. Barton was released on bond, but the court prohibits him from getting behind the wheel of any motor vehicle[1].
Before this horrific event, Barton enjoyed a successful career as a seasoned football player, earning the title of All-American right tackle at Ohio State from 2003 to 2007[2]. Subsequently, he was nabbed by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Besides his football career, Barton co-founded Buckeye Scoop, a popular football news website, though they were banned from attending OSU football events in person in 2021 for unapproved access[3].
Perry's grieving mother, Roslyn, is infuriated with the bond amount set for Barton, questioning the leniency possibly given due to Barton's status as a former Ohio State football star[2][4]. She openly laments her son's brutal loss, pointing out the stark contrast between Barton's minor injuries and Perry's fatal outcome. Roslyn implores the court to reconsider the leniency and serves as a powerful reminder of Barton's past run-ins with the law, such as arrests for alcohol-related offenses[2].
Barton's attorney, however, brushes aside his client's past transgressions, focusing on the present circumstances at hand[2]. Barton's court date has been scheduled for July 1[1][3][4]. This incident certainly sheds a somber light on a promising athletic career, leaving us to ponder the devastating consequences of a single, drunken decision.
[1] Ohio State Buckeyes offensive tackle Kirk Barton charged in deadly Dublin car crash
[2] Ex-Ohio State Offensive Lineman Kirk Barton Charged in Deadly Crash: Report
[3] Kirk Barton Ohio State
[4] Ohio State Buckeyes Offensive Tackle Kirk Barton Arraigned in Deadly Crash
In the aftermath of his football career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Kirk Barton found himself embroiled in a scandal, being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide/manslaughter while intoxicated. This tragic incident left Ethan Perry, a Dublin resident, dead. On the other hand, general news headlines also reported the arrest of Barton due to the wreck, but sports news and crime and justice updates it seems, have taken on a more somber tone following this devastating event in his life, once a star offensive lineman.
