Former Buckeye expected to change plea in 2025 fatal Dublin crash

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A former Ohio State University football player is expected to change his plea for his part in a fatal June 2025 crash. According to an attorney involved in the case, Kirk Barton, 41, of Lewis Center, will have a change-of-plea hearing on Wednesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Watch previous coverage of the case in the video player above. Barton is facing two charges each of vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle while impaired. Barton has pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to Dublin police, on June 21, Barton was allegedly driving a Ford F-150 Raptor pickup truck at a high rate of speed east on U.S. 33 before entering Dublin at approximately 3 a.m. While driving on West Bridge Street, the truck hit a Lexus driven by 24-year-old Ethan Perry; Perry was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said that Barton was driving on the wrong side of the road when the crash happened. After the crash, he slurred his speech, couldn't answer basic questions, and had an alcohol odor on his breath, according to court documents. Barton also allegedly admitted to police that he drank alcohol before the crash. Barton played for the Buckeyes from 2003 to 2007 and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. His professional career spanned only three years for seven different teams, playing in just one NFL regular-season game.