An Ashley man will go to state prison for causing a drunken April wreck on the Casey Highway, Lackawanna County President Judge Michael J. Barrasse ruled Tuesday.
Wayne A. Ferrier, 34, 18½ Wyoming St., was sentenced to 15 months to six years behind bars and must pay about $48,000 in restitution.
Part of that sentence also stems from a violation of his probation on a 2018 DUI.
Ferrier collided with a family April 5 while driving the wrong way on an exit ramp. Speaking in court Tuesday, Lacey Neal testified the effects of that day have lingered. Only recently has her daughter been able to make it through the night without a nightmare.
State police said Neal was trying to exit the highway at Exit 1 shortly before 8 p.m. while Ferrier tried to get on the highway using the exit ramp.
Neal said she saw Ferrier’s headlights and first thought it was odd. Then she felt sure this oncoming vehicle was going to kill them.
They collided. Ferrier got out and fled on foot.
“I know he heard the screams,” Neal said. “But, he ran and he hid.”
State police found him walking down the Casey Highway away from the crash scene.
Ferrier reeked of alcohol. He refused a chemical test.
A judge allowed him to enter rehab in August.
Ferrier pleaded guilty Sept. 19 to counts of DUI and accidents involving death or personal injury, according to court records. The plea agreement dropped counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, among other charges.
Ferrier’s sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous testified that Ferrier works diligently to maintain his sobriety.
Ferrier said he is grateful no one was killed or more seriously injured during the wreck.
“I deeply apologize for every heartache that I put them through,” Ferrier said. “I made a terrible decision and affected so many lives.”
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