California doctor’s light sentence for deadly hit-and-run sparks outrage

A California cardiologist who fled the scene after fatally striking a 26-year-old mother of three in Fresno will spend only eight months behind bars for the crime — a sentence that left the victim’s family outraged.

Dr. James Comazzi was sentenced Wednesday by Fresno County judge sentenced him in connection with the February 2021 death of Juliana Ramos, a Reedley woman who was studying to become a certified nursing assistant.

Ramos was killed after pulling over near Manning Avenue to assist another crash victim, ABC 30 reported.

Comazzi briefly got out of his vehicle before leaving the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver remained unidentified for months until investigators linked Comazzi to the fatal collision through an anonymous tip.

In emotional statements delivered in court Wednesday, Ramos’ relatives described a loss that continues to haunt their family nearly five years later.

“My grandma lost her daughter. My mom, aunts and uncles lost her sister,” said Ramos’ niece, Ivette Lopez. “My cousin lost an aunt and I lost a best friend. But most importantly, her kids lost their mother at a very young age.”

Lopez also questioned how a physician could flee the scene after hitting someone who had stopped to help others.

“What kind of doctor in any specialty does that? He managed to get away with it for eight months. Did he have any remorse? Did he think about the pain he had caused for my family?” she said.

Comazzi addressed Ramos’ family during the sentencing, telling them: “No words can undo the past or fix the profound brokenness caused by my actions.”

Fresno County Superior Court Judge James Kelley noted the case could have played out much differently if the driver had stayed at the scene.

“Had he stuck around at that point, had he stayed, this case at all would’ve been brought as a misdemeanor,” Kelley said.

Comazzi previously pleaded no contest to felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges.

On Wednesday, the judge ordered him to serve eight months in county jail.

Ramos’ loved ones argued the punishment failed to reflect the magnitude of what was taken from them.

“I believe that Mr. Comazzi does not deserve the sentence of probation with up to a year in jail. That decision was set to be based on his age and lack of criminal record. But what about Juli? Did her age not matter? She had no criminal record. She was going to school to become a CNA,” Lopez explained.

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