Judge denies bond for driver in crash that killed Serra Catholic student

An Allegheny County judge on Wednesday denied bond for the man accused of killing a 15-year-old Serra Catholic student in a crash as she was on her way to school in September, writing that he found him to be a risk to the community.

William Soliday II, 43, of North Huntingdon has been held in Allegheny County Jail since his Dec. 13 arrest.

His attorney, Casey White, filed a request for bond and on Tuesday argued that his client, who was severely injured in the crash, was not getting the medical care and attention at the jail.

However, in his decision, Judge Edward J. Borkowski wrote that the jail can accommodate Soliday’s medical condition and that he poses a risk to the community based on the charges against him and his past driving history.

The judge said that Soliday has a history of motor vehicle code violations, including three speeding violations, one for careless driving and a restriction on his driver’s license.

Soliday was driving a Volkswagen Jetta the morning of Sept. 20, when he started racing a co-worker from Bettis Laboratory.

Witnesses said the men were driving at high speeds across the Mansfield Bridge.

At 7:20 a.m., Soliday crashed into a school van carrying several students.

Three of them were ejected, and Samantha Kalkbrenner, 15, died at the scene.

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Police said that Soliday was driving 107 mph just before the crash.

Soliday is charged with criminal homicide, homicide by vehicle and related charges.

His co-worker, Andrew Voigt, 37, of Penn Hills, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. His vehicle was not involved in the crash, and police said he fled the scene.

Voigt is charged with accidents involving death, five counts of reckless endangerment and traffic counts.

During Tuesday’s bond hearing, Soliday’s wife told the court that her husband suffered a vertebral fracture and required a spinal fusion after the crash. He also has a colostomy bag after having part of his colon removed.

She said he also sustained rib, sternum and wrist fractures and a concussion.

Since his arrest, she said he has missed several doctor’s appointments and that his neurological symptoms are worsening.

Soliday, who has top security clearances, is a mechanical engineer at Bettis and works as a procurement specialist.