Man faces homicide charge in wife’s death
A Chelmsford man is facing drunken driving and motor vehicle homicide charges after, authorities said, he drove into his wife of 53 years outside their home, fatally injuring her.
Harry Conover Jr., 73, appeared yesterday in Lowell District Court, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on his personal recognizance, said Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.
In a statement, Leone’s office said Conover was arrested on charges of fatally injuring his wife, Sandra Conover, 73, about 6 p.m. Wednesday outside their home on Cranberry Lane. Prosecutors said the couple argued before 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.’’
Sandra Conover was pronounced dead at Lowell General Hospital.
Defense attorney Julie-Ann Olson said two of the couple’s daughters were in court to show support for their father, and a son was coming from California.
Harry Conover is a retired software engineer. Olson said the Conovers had lived in the house on Cranberry Lane for about 30 years. She called the death a “tragic and devastating accident.’’
In the statement, Leone said that “any time 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,’’ he said.
Harry Conover is scheduled to return to court Sept. 1 for a probable cause hearing.
Amanda Cedrone can be reached at Acedrone@globe.com. John R. Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com. 