Kirk Barton, a former Ohio State University football star who briefly played in the NFL, has been sentenced to a minimum of five years in prison for a fatal car crash in Dublin, Ohio, in 2025 that claimed the life of a 24-year-old man. The 41-year-old Barton, who was an offensive lineman for the Buckeyes from 2003 to 2007, initially faced multiple charges but ultimately pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated vehicular homicide.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing Details
On Wednesday, Barton entered a guilty plea in court, with the other charges—including two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of Operating a Vehicle Impaired (OVI)—being dropped. As a result, he received a prison sentence ranging from five to seven and a half years. Visiting Judge David Cain also ordered that Barton's driver's license be permanently suspended. During the hearing, Barton stated, 'I am pleading guilty because I am guilty,' as reported by 10TV.com in Columbus.
The Tragic Crash and Victim
The crash occurred in the early hours of June 21, 2025, when Barton was driving his pickup truck in the wrong direction on US Route 33. Prosecutors revealed that he attempted to turn around on the highway, with his vehicle reaching speeds of 126 mph in a 25 mph zone before the collision and 114 mph at the time of impact with Ethan Perry's Lexus. Perry, a 24-year-old avid YouTuber, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was on his way home to edit footage he had recorded earlier, with a friend describing him as someone who had just completed a 50-hour work week and was pursuing his dreams.
Impaired Driving Evidence
Barton survived the crash with non-life-threatening injuries, but subsequent tests showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.242 percent, significantly above Ohio's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Police at the scene noted signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes and slurred speech, and prosecutors confirmed that Barton later admitted to consuming alcohol before the incident.
Emotional Court Statements
Roslyn Perry, Ethan's mother, addressed the court during the sentencing, expressing her profound grief. She said, 'Because of your selfishness, I will never be a mother of a groom or a grandparent. Because of your selfishness, he doesn't call me in the morning anymore.' Friends of Perry, such as Benjamin Woods, also shared tributes, highlighting his positive impact and the tragic loss of a promising young life.
Barton's Football Career
Barton was a seventh-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2008 NFL Draft but only appeared in one NFL game. He was part of the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes team that had an undefeated regular season before losing in the BCS Championship to the Florida Gators. His fall from sports prominence to a prison sentence underscores the severe consequences of impaired driving.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the lasting devastation it causes to families and communities. The sentencing brings a measure of justice, but the loss of Ethan Perry remains a poignant tragedy for all involved.
