RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Driver gets max sentence for wreck
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.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
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.
Accountability : 11/8/2008
The judges and state should have long ago locked Ferry up and threw away the key. Their failure to recognize Ferry was an accident /death to an innocent person waiting to happen show they have no accountability and should be removed from their throne.
Ferry - max sentance : 11/8/2008
Amanda and her family are the ones whom received the max sentance, 10 years is nothing for Ferry
Dr. Frankenstein et.al. : 11/8/2008
The doctors who removed this child's frontal lobe are monsters.When anyone is so critically injured that the only method of preventing unchal herniation is by removal of the executive area of the brain, it is time to simply let them die.
Ferry is where he belongs : 11/8/2008
Ferry should spend the rest of his miserable life confined to a jail cell, he obviously cannot live among the rest of us. Thank god they gave him the maximum sentence, but it still isn't long enough...
Justice for Amanda : 11/08/2008 : 11/8/2008
Lets all hope Ferry serves the full 10 years, as that is what he deserves. In a perfect world, he would never get out, so we will take what we can get.
AMANDA : 11/8/2008
I WILL PRAY FOR AMANDA AND I HAVE PUT HER ON THE PRAY CHANE AT THE RIVER OF LIFE CHURCH IN BENTLYVILLE PA. BUT AS FAR AS DRIVERS WITH NO LISENS THEY SHOULD COME UP WITH MORE HARSHER PENELTES BEFOUR SOME THING HAPENS.
COURT SYSTEMS : 11/9/2008
THIS IS "(BS)". A MAN 4 YEARS AGO OUT RITE, WITH NO REMORSE SHOT MY UNCL IN WASHIGNTON, WAS SENTENCED NY A WASHIGNTON COUNTY JUDGE TO A 5-10 SENTENCE, AND THIS MAN HAS AN EXTENXIVE CRIMINAL BACKROUND, NOW HE HITS A VEHILCE INJURING PEOPLE, KIDS NONE-THE LESS, AND ONE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAED, BUT WAS REVIVED!! AND TO THIS DAY IS PLAGUED WITH SICKNESS,INFECTION, AND PAIN, THAT SHE WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE THE REST OF HER LIFE, UNTIL IT BRINGS HER TO HER DEATH! WHY SHOULDNT THIS MAN BE SENTENCED TO A TERM THAT WILL AFFECT HIS LIFE UNTIL HE DIES!!!! HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR IS CLEAR MIS-JUDGEMENT AND CHILDISH BACKROUND THAT HE OBVIOUSLY STILL CARRIES WITH HIM TO THIS DAY,,THIS GIRL WOULDNT BE IN THIS SITUATION, NOR WOULD HER PARENTS!! I CANT EVEN FATHEM, HOW THEY MUST FEEL ABOUT THIS,,,,THIS MAN SHOULD BE IN JAIL THE REST OF HIS LIFE!!!!!!!
Justice System : 11/9/2008
Mr. Ferry should have been off the street and this accident NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED!! He should have been behind bars long ago with such an extensive criminal history and 29 vehicle violations! The judges should be behind bars too ,as they are responsible for a little 3 y/o having to suffer EVERY day of her life.
Justice System : 11/10/2008
How can a man with such an extensive criminal history and vehicle violations
Dr. Frankenstein,et,al : 11/10/2008
Lets just hope that a MONSTER doesn't hit you or any one in your family while you are out driving your car!!!What a COLD-HEARTED person YOU are! I PITY YOU!
REHAB : 11/10/2008
I PRAY that there is a rehab program ,so that when he is released from prison this will not happen again!
REHAB : 11/13/2008
I PRAY that there is a rehab program ,so that when he is released from prison this will not happen again!
What is wrong with the court system : 11/15/2008
How can this man receive such light sentencing for vehicular accident and running from the scene of such a violent accident??? It is reheprehensible that he will ever be free to drive a car ever again!!!! He should rot in jail
