Guilty Pleas in road rage death.
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Monday, Dr. Salim Ghazi appeared before Judge Ruth in Jacksonville, Florida on charges of vehicular homicide in the November 2005 road rage death of a 24 year-old Jacksonville woman. He plead guilty to two counts of reckless driving and was sentenced to one year probation and 150 hours community service.
This plead agreement was offered by the State's Attorney Office with the consent of the victim's family.
The State Attorney's office stated had the case gone to trial; it could have set a precedent because Ghazi's sport utility vehicle never made contact with Kierra Shores' vehicle.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol report, Ghazi was tailgating Shore in the fast lane. He got boxed in by other cars, and when he tried to get around her, she sped up; they raced side by side before he was able to get in front of her vehicle. Ghazi braked and Shore lost control of her vehicle. She wasn't wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected from her vehicle striking her head on the median and died. The only witness to the scene obtained a partial tag number which led the police to Dr. Ghazi. Dr. Ghazi told authorities four days later he hadn't hear anything on the news, didn't see her crash, but did see her loose control.
The State's Attorney's Office told reporters that Shore's reckless driving, lack of wearing a seatbelt and untested legal grounds led into the decision of the plea agreement.
Dr. Ghazi is still employed with the Mayo Clinic; however the Board of Medicine will review this matter regarding the status of his medical license.