Michael Ware Gets Prison Time For Daughter's Crash

Written by JUSTIN HEINZE (Patch Staff)

The man whose daughter drove unlicensed and who then got in a crash that killed three Pennsylvania students is headed to jail, according to multiple media reports.

Michael Ware, 54, of Eastchester, N.Y, was sentenced to 6.5 to 16 years in prison for his actions, per The Intelligencer.

Wayne County Judge Ray Hamill called his actions “reckless,” ”stupid,” and “criminal,” said he was a “failure of a father,” according to The Journal News.

Hamill said he gave Ware a more severe punishment because he initially lied to investigators and allowed his daughter to take the blame, according to the Associated Press.

“I will never be able to feel the loss the families will forever feel,” Ware said, per The Journal News. “I can only say hopefully this brings some form of closure for everyone affected by this horrible tragedy. Neither I, nor my daughter ... ever meant any harm to anyone that day.”

Ware will also have to pay $73,000 in restitution, reports said.

Ware had pleaded guilty to three counts of involuntary manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering another person in connection with the Aug. 30 crash, according to the Wayne County District Attorney’s office.

Authorities say Ware allowed his unlicensed teen daughter to drive his SUV, which crashed, killing Cullen Keffer, Shamus Digney and Ryan Lesher, all incoming sophomores at Council Rock South.

Ware and his daughter, Julia, were vacationing at Wallenpaupak Lake Estates. The Council Rock teens were also there for the Labor Day weekend.

Pennsylvania State Police said that Ware initially lied about giving his daughter permission to drive the car, but authorities later learned Ware allowed his daughter to drive his car before the accident as well.

In April, the Pleasantville, N.Y. teen pleaded guilty in Juvenile Court to seven charges, including three counts of felony homicide by vehicle and two misdemeanor counts of accidents involving death or injury as an unlicensed driver.

She was sentenced in May to indefinite probation and 300 hours of community service. She must also write a 2,000 word essay on the impact of the crash and pay more than $44,000 in restitution.

Julia Ware has not spoken to her father since the accident, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.