WATCH: Family’s emotional impact statement to woman sentenced in hit-and-run death of San Antonio surgeon Melissa Peoples pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter charge
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman who pleaded guilty last month in the 2019 hit-and-run death of a prominent San Antonio surgeon was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison.
During a court hearing on Nov. 30 , Melissa Peoples pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter and no contest to a charge of failure to stop and render aid. She agreed to the 15-year sentence which was handed down during Tuesday’s hearing.
Peoples fatally struck 58-year-old Dr. Naji Kayruz with her car on Feb. 4, 2019. Kayruz was riding his bicycle in the bike lane of an Interstate 10 access road when he was struck and killed near the Dominion.
After the sentencing, Kayruz’s family gave emotional victim impact statements.
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About the Authors Japhanie Gray headshot
Japhanie Gray is an anchor on Good Morning San Antonio and Good Morning San Antonio at 9 a.m. The award-winning journalist rejoined KSAT in August 2024 after previously working as a reporter on KSAT's Nightbeat from 2018 to 2021. She also highlights extraordinary stories in her series, What's Up South Texas.
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