BANGOR – A man whose girlfriend died this summer in a head-on collision when he swerved into the lane of oncoming traffic as a way of saying hello to another driver pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Penobscot County Superior Court to manslaughter.

Nicholas J. Wark, 23, of Etna was indicted by the Penobscot County grand jury earlier this month. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison.

He was released Tuesday on $10,000 unsecured bond.

A trial date has not been set.

On Aug. 6, Wark was driving an Oldsmobile on Route 7, heading home with his fiancee Jessica Gibbons. The two collided with Roger Condon, 49, of Detroit, who was driving in the opposite direction. Wark and Condon know each other.

Wark swerved into the left lane with the intention of swerving back, according to Deputy James Kennedy of the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department. The rear wheels of Wark’s vehicle lost control, and he couldn’t realign himself.

Gibbons, 20, of Plymouth died at the scene. Condon and Wark were taken to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Condon had a broken nose and facial injuries and Wark had a broken ankle.