Skip to content

Ex-cop gets prison sentence for deadly crash

Former Sgt. Thomas Winkis pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, DUI, reckless endangerment in the 2013 crash that killed David Farries.

Former Sgt. Thomas Winkis (Courtesy of the Philadelphia Police Department).
Former Sgt. Thomas Winkis (Courtesy of the Philadelphia Police Department).Read more

FORMER Philadelphia Police Sgt. Thomas Winkis said he hoped David Farries' relatives could find some peace.

"I'm truly sorry for the loss of Mr. Farries to his family," Winkis said in court. "I truly hope my actions today bring some closure to them."

That hope was expressed yesterday morning when Winkis, 46, pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, DUI and reckless endangerment for slamming his Dodge Challenger into Farries' Ford Econoline van in 2013 in Holmesburg. The high-speed crash at State Road and Ashburner Street threw Farries, 55, from his van. He died three days later.

Common Pleas Judge Rose Marie Defino-Nastasi sentenced Winkis to 1 1/2 to five years in prison and six months' probation. He also must pay Farries' family $15,103 to cover funeral expenses.

On Sept. 14, 2013, Winkis was traveling about 100 mph - more than three times the speed limit - according to court testimony. He had come from Maggie's Waterfront Cafe in Torresdale, where surveillance footage showed that he and a female friend drank beers and took shots of Jaegermeister.

"Do you know why you were going that fast?" Defino-Nastasi asked at yesterday's hearing. "If you had been going the speed limit, this could have been avoided."

The crash left the Fishtown resident's four daughters and seven grandchildren with only memories of Farries taking care of his family and shuttling his wheel-chair-ridden mother in his van. In tears, Christine Farries, 33, said she is still trying to come to terms with her father's death, but was pleased with the outcome of yesterday's hearing.

Winkis, a cop for 21 years, was fired after the crash. His attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr., said the accident happened just days after the brain-aneurysm death of Winkis' ex-wife, also a cop.

Winkis is free on bail until his sentence begins July 15. Defino-Nastasi told him he's not allowed to drive.

On Twitter: @annierpalmer