Glendale Driver Pleads Innocent in Deaths of 4

A Glendale driver accused of killing four pedestrians pleaded not guilty Friday to four counts of manslaughter and one count of causing an accident with injuries while driving under the influence of alcohol.

William K. Conway, 27, appeared distraught as he entered his plea before Glendale Municipal Court Commissioner Joseph F. De Vanon. If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for a maximum of 17 years and eight months, Deputy Dist. Atty. James E. Rogan said.

Conway, a part-time maintenance worker for the Glendale Parks and Recreation Division, was arrested Wednesday evening. Police said he was driving south on Canada Boulevard in Glendale at 8:30 p.m. when his car struck members of two families waiting on a traffic island to cross the street.

Killed were Valerie Cramer, 32; her daughter, Brianna Cramer, 9; Patricia Carr, 36, and her daughter, Karen Carr, 6. Valerie Cramer’s son, Billy, 11, had a broken hand.

Rogan said after the hearing that prosecutors believe that Conway left Mike’s Verdugo Room, 3509 N. Verdugo Road, and that his car was traveling between 60 and 70 m.p.h. when it struck the families.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled Thursday in Glendale Municipal Court. Conway is being held in Los Angeles County Jail on $200,000 bail. He was represented Friday by Deputy Public Defender Douglas J. Goldstein.

Glendale Mayor Carl W. Raggio said that because of the accident, the city may study the traffic volume, speed and signals at the intersection of Canada Boulevard and Verdugo Road.