Jonathan Nakhla, the Mobile neurosurgeon convicted in March of reckless murder in the 2020 death of Samantha Thomas, was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison.

Nakhla was found to have been impaired by several hours of drinking prior to the Aug. 1, 2020 crash. Nakhla, with Thomas as a passenger, was driving his Audi Spyder sports car south on the west Interstate 65 service road at an estimated 138 mph when it left the roadway, flipped several times and came to rest in a ditch.

The 24-year-old Thomas, a medical student at the University of South Alabama, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“After midnight on August 1, 2020, Jonathan Nakhla made the decision to get behind the wheel and tragically ended the life of Samantha Thomas,” wrote Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood on his Facebook page. “Samantha Thomas was a daughter, a sister, a friend and an aspiring doctor.

“Today, Jonathan Nakhla was held accountable for his actions.”

Under Alabama law, Nakhla was facing a prison term of 20 to 99 years. Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Ben Brooks said both families have suffered, but the impact on Thomas’ family was of greatest concern, according to a report from WKRG.

“The defendant’s family are God-fearing people,” Brooks said. “The separation of the defendant from his family weighs heavily on me but what weighs more heavily is this tragedy of Samantha Thomas. Samantha will never get married and Mr. Thomas will never have grandchildren.”

Nakhla also offered an apology to Thomas’ family prior to sentencing, according to the report.

“I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter. I think about her, pray for her, pray for you,” Nakhla said. “It is difficult to look over there just ‘cause of all the devastation that occurred. No family should have to endure what you’re going through.

“I’m a father too. I think about my own children and it brings me back to you and I just — I truly am sorry.”