A Florida judge has sentenced a 70-year-old man to 37 years in prison for allowing his young teenage son to drive unsupervised, resulting in a horrific 2023 crash that killed a grandmother and three children.
Richard Ferguson was sentenced on February 18 in an Osceola County courtroom on four counts of vehicular manslaughter. The case stems from a Labor Day weekend incident in which Ferguson allowed his then-15-year-old son to get behind the wheel of his car with friends inside.
According to court records, the teenager ran a stop sign on the evening of September 2, 2023, crashing into an SUV carrying a family of five. The collision killed the grandmother, Janis Hernandez, and three grandchildren under the age of 11. The grandfather, Angel Hernandez, survived and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
A Plea for Leniency Denied
During the emotionally charged sentencing hearing, Ferguson’s legal team pleaded for leniency, citing the defendant’s declining health. They informed the court that Ferguson suffers from stage four prostate cancer and other serious medical issues.
Despite the health concerns, prosecutors argued that the gravity of the loss—four lives—warranted a significant prison term.
Speaking directly to the court and the grieving family, Ferguson expressed deep remorse for his actions.
“I must speak these words from the deepest place in my heart,” Ferguson said, according to Orlando news station WESH 2. “I am profoundly sorry. This tragedy did not just take lives, it shattered families.”
A Family’s Devastation
The weight of the sentence was felt most acutely by the victims’ family. The mother of the three deceased children, who is also the daughter of the late Janis Hernandez, delivered a powerful victim impact statement.
“They should’ve been burying me, not the other way around,” she told the court, reflecting the unimaginable grief of losing both her mother and her children in a single, preventable incident.
The Fate of the Teenage Driver
Ferguson’s son, who was 15 at the time of the crash and did not possess a learner’s permit, has also faced consequences for his role in the tragedy. He accepted a plea deal and is currently incarcerated. Authorities confirmed he will remain behind bars until he turns 19, contingent on good behavior.
The case has sparked widespread discussion about parental responsibility and the severe legal consequences that can follow when adults fail to supervise minors operating dangerous machinery.
