By John Dobberstein, Editor
A man accused of being legally drunk when he caused a crash that killed two elderly women has pleaded guilty to charges.
According to court records, Patrick Wayne Ferm entered a “blind plea” of guilty recently in Tulsa County District Court before Judge Dawn Moody on two counts of first-degree manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and failure to stop at a red light.
Moody accepted the plea but held off on issuing a sentence. Ferm was then taken into custody. A pre-sentencing investigation will be conducted before Ferm is sentenced on Jan. 16.
Ferm, a resident of Claremore, waived his right to a preliminary examination and jury trial in October.
The Broken Arrow Police Department said Ferm was driving a 2006 Dodge Ram south on Lynn Lane Road around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 when it struck a 2015 Ford Escape at the intersection with Albany Street.
The driver and the passenger in the Ford Escape were pronounced deceased. They were identified as 75-year-old Marji Cowles and 80-year-old Gloria Voss, both of Broken Arrow.
In addition, attorneys representing the estate of the two women killed have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Ferm, Austin Counts, Joe McKerrow and Beena Enterprises LLC, which operates the Route 66 Sports Bar in Claremore.
Attorneys accuse the bar of serving alcohol to Ferm the night of the accident while he was visibly intoxicated and allowed Ferm to leave the bar knowing he could not operate it safely.
Counts filed an answer to the lawsuit this month stating he had loaned his truck to Ferm because Ferm told him he was going to put in a job application at the bar — where they both worked — and then play some pool. Counts said he had no idea Ferm had been drinking at the bar and found out about the accident the next day. Counts said Ferm wasn’t even supposed to be in Broken Arrow.
Leave a Reply