Former NFL player Kirk Barton has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide relating to a fatal crash in Ohio on Saturday morning.
The 40-year-old, who played guard for the Chicago Bears, is accused of driving a Ford pickup truck ‘at a high rate of speed’ eastbound on U.S. Route 33 near Dublin around 3am.
According to NBC4, Barton then entered Historic Dublin and collided with a Lexus on West Bridge Street. He was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road before the crash.
The driver of the Lexus, 24-year-old Ethan Perry, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Barton was released from hospital into police custody after suffering some non-life threatening injuries in the smash.
Police at the scene claimed he had slurred speech and his breath smelt of alcohol.
Former NFL player Kirk Barton has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide relating to a fatal crash in Ohio on Saturday morning
Barton, who has three sons with wife Kim, had slurred speech and smelt of alcohol, say police
Barton played college football at Ohio State and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2008
It’s also alleged that Barton couldn’t answer basic questions and admitted he had been drinking before the incident.
Barton has been charged with a second-degree felony count of aggravated vehicular homicide. He is due to be arraigned on Monday.
On June 15, Barton’s wife Kim posted a Father’s Day message to her husband on Instagram. It appears the couple share three young sons.
She wrote: ‘The boys and I are so thankful for you. What a great year and an even better one on deck. We hope you have the best day ever. Love you to the moon and back’.
Barton played college football at Ohio State from 2003 to 2007. He was drafted by the Bears with the 247th pick of the 2008 NFL Draft.
He made just one appearance for the Bears and had spells with the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.
