Ex-OSU Player Charged in Fatal Dublin Crash

Kirk Barton, a 40-year-old former Ohio State football player and ex-NFL athlete, has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after allegedly driving under the influence and on the wrong side of the road, resulting in a fatal crash early Saturday in Dublin, Ohio. Barton, allegedly speeding in a Ford F150 Raptor, collided with a Lexus driven by 24-year-old Ethan Wence Perry, who died at the scene. Police reports state Barton exhibited slurred speech, smelled of alcohol, and admitted to drinking before the incident. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries, was released from the hospital, and taken into police custody, with arraignment scheduled for Monday. Barton has prior driving-related offenses and assault charges, and the crash led to major road closures in Historic Dublin. The incident has prompted public condolences from Buckeye Scoop, a site Barton co-founded, as the community responds to the tragedy.