Driver in crash that killed Serra Catholic student asks for jail release amid injuries

By Paula Reed Ward
Trib Total Media
The man charged with killing a 15-year-old Serra Catholic student in a school van crash in September has asked the court to release him on bond so he can address myriad injuries he sustained in the accident.
William Soliday II, 43, of Irwin, is charged with criminal homicide, homicide by vehicle, reckless endangering and related counts stemming from the Sept. 20 crash at the intersection of Richland Avenue and Third Street in Dravosburg.
Soliday’s wife, Flanna Soliday, testified during a hearing Tuesday that her husband sustained a vertebral fracture and had a spinal fusion. He also has a colostomy bag after having part of his colon removed.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Edward J. Borkowski said he would rule on the motion within 24 hours.
According to investigators, Soliday was driving a Volkswagen Jetta that morning, racing his co-worker, Andrew Voigt, 37, of Penn Hills, who was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.
Witnesses told police they saw both vehicles driving at high speeds and racing across the Mansfield Bridge.
The Jetta struck the school van at the intersection of Richland Avenue and Third Street about 7:23 a.m., ejecting three students.
Fifteen-year-old Samantha Kalkbrenner died at the scene.
According to investigators, Soliday was driving 107 mph seconds before the crash.
Voigt, whose car was not involved in the crash, fled the scene that morning.
He is charged with accidents involving death, five counts of reckless endangering and traffic counts.
Voigt and Soliday were charged on Dec. 13. Voigt’s bond was set at $150,000, and he posted through a bond agency on Thursday.
On Tuesday, defense attorney Casey White asked Borkowski to release Soliday from jail so that he could be treated for the injuries sustained in the crash.
On top of the vertebral fracture, Soliday sustained rib, sternum and wrist fractures, as well as a concussion, his wife said.

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