Branford Man Charged With DUI, Manslaughter In Friend's Death

BRANFORD, CT — Kevin Whalen, 27, of Branford was charged Tuesday with manslaughter in a January rollover crash that killed his friend, state police said.

On Jan. 12, on I-91 South in Meriden, police said Whalen was driving a Jeep while drunk and ran into another car, flipping the Wrangler. He first told cops someone else was driving the Jeep but a Connecticut State Police Troop I investigation found otherwise as he posted a video to Snapchat as he was driving, just a minute before the crash.

The person driving the car he rear-ended was hurt and one of his passengers in the Jeep was alos hurt. But another of Whalen's passengers, Edward L. Harris, Jr., 28, of Northford, died as a result of the injures he sustained in the crash.

Harris, who was a warehouse supervisor for Colony Hardware of Orange, played football and baseball for North Branford High School, was an avid Washington Redskins and Boston Red Sox fan and was an organ donor, his obituary reads.

With A Warrant Out For His Arrest, Whalen Turned Himself In

Whalen turned himself in to state police as there was a warrant for his arrest on two felony manslaughter charges, DUI, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving among other motor vehicle related charges.

State police said Whalen had a court-set bond of $500,000, but online court records show he posted $100,000 bond today and was released. He is due back in court March 2 when, judicial records show, a plea is expected.

The criminal information summary of the investigation (with details some may find disturbing) runs 20 pages.

Whalen Arrest by Ellyn Santiago on Scribd