A former Philadelphia police sergeant was sentenced to two to seven years in prison after pleading no contest on Monday to charges related to a drunken-driving crash that claimed the life of another motorist in Holmesburg in 2013.
Thomas Winkis was operating his 2002 Dodge Challenger at about 100 mph southbound on State Road late that Sept. 14 when his vehicle struck a van driven by David Farries, 56, at the intersection of Ashburner Street.
Although Farries had pulled into Winkis’ path against a flashing red light (and Winkis had a flashing yellow), the cop’s excessive speed and blood-alcohol content caused the collision, said authorities, who claimed that Winkis drank nine beers and three shots in the hours before the crash.
Farries was taken to Aria Health’s Torresdale Campus, where he died three days after the accident. Winkis, a 21-year police veteran, retired from the force after the accident. ••
