Chelmsford man accused of killing wife in drunken-driving incident

By Amanda Cedrone, Globe Correspondent and John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

A Chelmsford man is facing drunk driving and motor vehicle homicide charges after he allegedly drove into his wife of 53 years outside their home, fatally injuring her.

Harry Conover, Jr., 73, appeared in Lowell District Court today and pleaded not guilty and was released on personal recognizance, according to Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.

In a statement, Leone’s office said Conover is charged with fatally injuring his wife, Sandra Conover, 73, around 6 p.m. Wednesday outside their home on Cranberry Lane. Prosecutors said the couple had argued, and that Harry Conover left the house and got into his car.

“The victim followed the defendant outside and when the defendant drove off, it is alleged that the victim was then fatally injured,’’ prosecutors said. “The defendant is alleged to have continued driving but returned home thereafter after he claimed he saw the victim on the ground in the roadway.’’

Summarizing the bail argument she made in court today, defense attorney Julie-Ann Olson said the Conovers were married for 53 years. She said two of the couple’s daughters were in court today to show their support for their father. A son is en route from California, she said.

Olson said that Harry Conover was a principal software engineer when he retired from Raytheon Co., and that he had previously worked the General Railway Signal Company in its rapid transit system department.

Olson said the Conovers had lived in the house on Cranberry Lane for about 30 years.
She called the death of Sandra Conover a “tragic and devastating accident.’’ Sandra Conover was rushed to Lowell General Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

In the statement, Leone said that “anytime you get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, you heighten the risk of danger to yourself and others. Here that appears to have occurred in a very tragic way, with his impaired driving resulting in the death of the defendant’s wife.”

Harry Conover is scheduled to return to court Sept. 1 for a probable cause hearing.