A quiet stretch of road in Dublin, Ohio turned into a scene of tragedy early Saturday morning, and at the center of it all is a former Ohio State football star whose life just took a devastating turn. Kirk Barton, once celebrated for protecting quarterbacks on the field, now faces a vehicular manslaughter charge that could define the rest of his life.
Authorities say Barton was driving through the heart of town around 3 a.m. when his pickup truck slammed into another vehicle, killing 24-year-old Ethan Perry. The crash didn’t just take a life, it rattled a community and left a once-revered Buckeye figure facing serious consequences.
Crash Closes Streets And Raises Serious Questions
According to a report by 10TV in Columbus, the crash caused major traffic disruptions. Police closed off West Bridge and North High streets along with the westbound roundabout at S.R. 161 and Riverside Drive. Crews reopened the area to the public around 10:15 a.m. Saturday. Investigators are still piecing together the sequence of events.
This isn’t Barton’s first brush with the law. Back in 2018, police charged him with felonious assault on an officer and resisting arrest after an altercation outside The Bogey Inn. Witnesses at the time told authorities that Barton slammed a taxi van door into an officer’s arm.
His conduct ultimately got his sports website, Buckeye Scoop, banned from covering Ohio State events in person. The school discovered the outlet had used unauthorized footage from practice sessions.
#UPDATE: Former Ohio State offensive lineman Kirk Barton was arrested and charged after a crash in Dublin early Saturday morning left a 24-year-old man dead. https://t.co/Cil2jNIEcN
— 10TV (@10TV) June 21, 2025
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Barton played for the Buckeyes from 2003 through 2007 and earned All-American honors in his final season. Known for his aggressive play at right tackle, he built a reputation as a vocal leader on the field. But the last several years have seen his post-football image unravel.
There has been no official comment from Barton or his legal team regarding Saturday’s crash. Dublin Police confirmed the incident remains under active investigation.
Ethan Perry’s death has left a family mourning and a community searching for answers. Barton’s future, once anchored in football success, now hangs in the balance as the legal process moves forward.
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