Glastonbury Man Charged in Car Accident that Killed Farmington's Michael McCallum

More than three months after a car accident that took the life of Michael McCallum, 40, of Farmington, police have charged a South Glastonbury man with driving while under the influence and manslaughter.

Charles Covington, 23, of 460 Foote Road, South Glastonbury, was charged with second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, first-degree manslaughter, manslaughter with a motor vehicle, and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. His bond was set at $100,000.

Covington turned himself in to Farmington Police on a warrant Saturday and was released on bail.

McCallum was a backseat passenger in the car Covington was driving on the evening of Aug. 12. Police say Covington hit a tree head-on while traveling at a high rate of speed behind Acme Auto Plus at 1371 Farmington Ave.

Covington and a 16-year-old Bristol girl were in the front seats of the car and both were alert and talking at the scene. They were taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital and both survived the accident.

McCallum — a mechanic who was the father of five — was in the back seat with no air bag. He was brought by ambulance to Farmington High School and Life Star transported him to St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, where he later died.

At the time, Sgt. Paul Walzak of the Farmington Police Department said police would likely never know how fast the car was traveling because it was on a dirt road, but "they were flying."

McCallum was married to Farmington Patch editor Kaitlin McCallum at the time of his death, though the two were in the process of getting divorced.

Covington's court date is set for Nov. 27.