Kirk Barton—a former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman—was arrested following a deadly crash in Dublin, Ohio, this past Saturday.
The man, whom the Chicago Bears selected in the 2008 NFL Draft, has since been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.
Former Chicago Bears NFL Draft pick, Kirk Barton, charged following fatal crash
Barton, 40, was allegedly driving a Ford F150 Raptor pickup truck at “a high rate of speed” eastbound on E.S. 33/S.R. 161 around 2:56 a.m. on June 21, according to a news release from the city. He was allegedly “driving recklessly by traveling in the wrong direction on US-33 before correcting his direction,” according to court documents obtained by WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio.
Barton allegedly collided with a Lexus on West Bridge Street. Barton suffered “non-life-threatening injuries” in the crash. The Lexus driver, 24-year-old Ethan Wence Perry, died at the scene.
The crash shut down West Bridge Street and North High Street in both directions. Traffic resumed when the roads were reopened at 10:15 a.m.
ABC6 reports that officers who arrived to the scene found Barton to have “glassy, bloodshot eyes and a blank stare.” He also allegedly had a “slow, slurred speech and was unable to answer basic questions about the evening and the crash.”
Both WSYX-TV and WBNS-TV in Columbus reported that records show Barton “admitted to drinking alcohol” before the crash.
Barton was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital. Upon his release from the medical facility, the Dublin Police took Barton into custody and transported him to Franklin County Jail.
Authorities “intend to charge Barton on one count of aggravated vehicular homicide.” A judge set Barton’s bond at $500,000 and prohibited him from driving a vehicle.
WSYX-TV also reported that Barton was previously charged with felony assault of a deputy in 2018. The drunken scuffle took place at a Memorial Golf Tournament. Fox 28 also reported that Barton was “arrested in alcohol-related driving offenses in 2010 and 2017 but pleaded guilty to lesser charges.
Barton was briefly in the NFL
Barton played for Ohio State from 2003 to 2007. He earned All-American honors in 2007, the year the Buckeyes reached the national championship. They were routed, 41-14, by the Florida Gators. The Buckeyes returned to the national championship game in 2008, where they lost to the LSU Tigers.
Following this loss, Barton declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears selected in the seventh round, almost the last pick of the draft—247th overall.
Barton only played one game with the Bears, according to Pro Football Reference. Throughout the following two years, Barton joined practice squads but never found a team or played another pro game.
After the Carolina Panthers waived him in 2010—the ninth team to do so—Barton’s time in the NFL was over.
Barton had worked for Buckeye Scoop, the “#1 Ohio State fan experience.”
“We just learned of the devastating news regarding Kirk’s involvement in a fatal incident,” the organization said in a statement on X. “We are heartbroken for the victim and their loved ones. This is a tragedy. At this time, we are gathering information and will have more to say when appropriate.”