INDIANAPOLIS -- A man with 19 prior driving-related convictions and now charged in connection with a drunken driving wreck that killed a woman said Wednesday that he is sorry about what happened.

John Ferrell Jr., 44, was taken to court in a wheelchair for an initial appearance on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death and reckless homicide, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

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Images: Crash Scene

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"I'm very, very sorry for hurting someone, taking someone's life," Ferrell said as his obscured his face with a piece of paper.

Ferrell was driving at about 75 mph when his truck plowed into a car driven by Susan Baldwin on Nov. 12 at the intersection of 56th Street and High School Road, police said.

Police said Ferrell's blood-alcohol level measured 0.17 after the crash, more than double the legal limit. Baldwin was pronounced dead at the scene.

A not-guilty plea was entered on Ferrell's behalf. His attorney, Terrence Kinnard, downplayed Ferrell's statement.

"It doesn't mean legal culpability, legal guilt. He does have some remorse for what may have occurred in that particular incident," Kinnard said. "It goes to his character, the kind of person he appears to be. We hope ... some good can come from what may have occurred."

Ferrell's license had been suspended 16 times and he had four prior DUI convictions, but he had a valid driver's license that had just been renewed five days before the wreck.

Friends of Baldwin said outside court that they were angry Ferrell was allowed to get behind the wheel.

"Anytime there is a loss, there is anger, (wondering) if anything could have been done to prevent it. We hope the laws will take care of it," said Baldwin's former co-worker, Gopal Krishna.

Ferrell was convicted of DUI in 1984, 1985 and twice in 2003. He was held Wednesday on $250,000 bond. A jury trial date was set for Jan. 21, 2009.