Kirk Barton charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after deadly crash

In Ohio, on a Saturday morning, Kirk Barton was involved in a fatal car wreck while allegedly driving under the influence. Dublin Police stated that Barton, a former Ohio State football lineman, was driving his pickup truck at a high rate of speed and on the wrong side of the road when he collided with a Lexus. The crash resulted in the death of 24-year-old Ethan Wence Perry at the scene. Barton, aged 40, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment. According to reports, Barton admitted to drinking prior to driving, and upon police arrival, he exhibited symptoms of intoxication, including a blank stare and glassy eyes. Following the incident, he was charged with one count of aggravated vehicular homicide. In a court appearance shortly thereafter, he was released on a $500,000 cash surety bond with restrictions on his travel and driving. Barton had a notable career as an offensive lineman for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he played from 2003 until 2007, earning All-American honors in his final season. He then entered the NFL when he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 Draft by the Chicago Bears, and he had brief tenures with several other teams throughout his professional career. In another incident related to drunk driving, a separate publication reported on James Blanchard, a 21-year-old man charged with causing the death of both a 5-year-old girl and her mother in a separate wreck. This incident highlights a troubling pattern of increased fatalities associated with drunk driving, underscoring the serious consequences of impaired driving and the ongoing legal repercussions for individuals involved in such tragic circumstances.