The driver accused of causing a 2006 collision in Kunia that killed four farm workers and injured eight others pleaded no contest yesterday to multiple criminal charges.

John Joseph Szemkow, 47, who police said was driving recklessly on Kunia Road, faces a maximum 10-year sentence for leaving the scene of an accident, a felony.

He also pleaded no contest to four counts of misdemeanor negligent homicide.

Authorities accused Szemkow of recklessly passing other vehicles on Kunia Road on April 4, 2006, causing a pickup truck carrying 12 farm workers to swerve and collide with an oncoming concrete mixing truck.

Killed were Aquilina Polendey, 57, and Ana Sacalamitao, 46, of Waipahu, and Lorna Laroco, 53, and Gertrudis Montano, 59, of 'Ewa Beach.

The victims were riding in the bed of a red pickup truck taking them to work. All were thrown from the vehicle.

Szemkow changed his plea from not guilty to no contest so the victims' families would not have to endure a trial, said his lawyer, Sam King Jr.

City deputy prosecutor Russell Uehara said that despite the no-contest plea, he believes Szemkow, a civilian worker at Schofield Barracks, should serve prison time and not be given probation.

"He snuffed out the lives of four people," Uehara said.

King yesterday told The Advertiser his client had been taking a prescription pain medication at the time of the accident. Szemkow is a disabled veteran, King said.

"No doctor told him it could be a problem," King said.

Szemkow hasn't driven since the accident, King said.

King also maintained that Szemkow did not knowingly leave the scene of an accident.

"There's evidence, which we will present at sentencing, that he didn't know an accident had occurred behind him," King said. "He wasn't running away, he just didn't know."

Following the 2006 crash, Szemkow turned himself in to the provost at Schofield Barracks after learning that the suspect vehicle in the accident matched the description of his car, King said.

The indictment, which was issued in December, alleged that Szemkow used "simple negligence" in operating his vehicle and causing the deaths of the truck's passengers.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan will sentence Szemkow in late June.

Staff writer Mary Vorsino contributed to this report.