Amanda Wyandt was a normal, happy, joyful 3-year-old, according to her grandfather, Bryan Cox.
That all changed on May 24, when she was severely injured in a two-vehicle crash on Route 88 near Finleyville. Today, she needs constant medical care and still may not survive the consequences of her injuries.
Amanda and her 1-year-old sister, Alyssa, were passengers in a vehicle driven by their father, Charles A. Wyandt Jr. of South Park, when they were struck by a vehicle driven by Ricky David Ferry, 40, of Melcroft.
Ferry, who has an extensive criminal and motor vehicle violation records, was drunk. He fled the scene of the accident, only to be apprehended a short time later following a traffic stop in Monongahela. His blood-alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit.
Amanda and Alyssa, along with their father and mother, Shannon J. Wyandt, who was also a passenger in the vehicle, received medical treatment. However, it was Amanda who suffered the most extensive injuries.
According to Cox, Amanda had been declared dead at the scene but later was revived and taken to Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh. There, doctors did everything they could to save the young girl's life, including removing the right front lobe of her brain and a sizable portion of her skull.
"The doctors didn't think she'd live," said her grandfather.
After months of hospitalization, Amanda was transferred to the step-down unit, where she went through a series of infections that continue to plague her today.
"If the trauma didn't kill her, these infections certainly could," said Cox, pointing out that his granddaughter has been left "horribly disfigured" and that there is no guaranteed prognosis for the kind of life that's in store for the child who has undergone 17 surgeries and is scheduled for more within the upcoming year.
Cox and his daughter, Shannon Wyandt, were in court Friday asking that Washington County Judge Paul Pozonsky impose the longest sentence legally possible against Ferry, who had agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges stemming from the crash.
Prior to his sentencing, Ferry apologized to Amanda's family for his actions.
"I want you to know that I am truly sorry to you and your family for what I did," Ferry said while sobbing uncontrollably. "I love children. Yes, I have a dark past. Only God knows how hurt I am, too. If I could ... all I regret ... it should have been me."
In turn, Ferry pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence and two counts of accidents involving death or personal injury. He was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison with a concurrent 7 years of probation.
Pozonsky assured Amanda's family that the sentence is the statutory maximum allowed by law.
Ferry, who obtained his driver's license in 1985, has a record of 29 traffic violations dating to 1987. He had been driving continuously although his license was under suspension for many years.
Amanda is currently staying at The Children's Institute in Pittsburgh. Contributions can be made to the Amanda Wyandt Fund at PNC Bank.