Manslaughter Charge Filed In Fatal Southington Crash

SOUTHINGTON, CT — The driver involved in single-car crash in Southington over the winter in which his passenger died has been charged with manslaughter, local police said Wednesday.

Robert Perkins, 26, of Windsor, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and driving under the influence, a police report indicates.

Perkins was released on a $150,000 court-set surety bond and is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on June 18, police said.

At 11:53 p.m. on Feb. 25, Southington Police received multiple 911 calls about a crash involving a utility pole at Queen and West Queen streets. Officers located one car in the middle of the southbound lanes on Queen Street near the Aircraft Road intersection with both Perkins and his passenger, outside it with serious injuries.

Perkins survived his injuries, but his passenger did not, according to a police report.

Investigators determined that Perkins was driving south on Queen Street in the left hand lane, and was traveling in excess of 100 mph in the 40 mph zone as he approached another vehicle, according to a crash report.

Perkins then swerved off the right side of the road, hit a curb then hit a utility pole and a mailbox, then grazed a traffic lane marker sign and a second utility pole before coming to final rest in the southbound lane of Queen Street, according to a crash report.

The force of the collision ejected both Perkins and his passenger from the vehicle, according to a crash report.

Neither occupant was wearing a seat belt, according to a crash report.

No other vehicle was damaged as a result of the collision, police said.