Thursday in the Montgomery County Circuit Court, Danny Lee Ferris, 49, of Goodview, Virginia, pled guilty and was convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter in the death of his wife, Patricia Lynn Ferris.
Ferris was also convicted of two misdemeanors, Driving Under the Influence and Driving with a Suspended License.
On Dec. 5, 2017, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and rescue personnel responded to a single vehicle crash near the intersection of Bluebird and Bradshaw Road.
Ferris was the driver and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He smelled of alcohol, and was transported by air to Roanoke for medical treatment. His wife, Patricia Lynn Ferris, was the front seat passenger and died as rescue was trying to extract her from the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier.
A search warrant was executed for Ferris’ hospital records. They showed his blood alcohol level exceeded .20, more than double the legal limit. Additionally, he tested positive for amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and oxycodone. Ferris has had his right to drive suspended since the late 1980s.
Ferris will be sentenced by Judge Robert M.D. Turk on March 25, 2019 at 9 p.m. There is no plea agreement as to the sentence. On the conviction for Involuntary Manslaughter Ferris faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $2,500.
He faces a maximum of 12 months in jail and $2,500 fine on each of the two misdemeanors.