Doctor Who Pleaded Guilty In Fatal Long Island DWI Crash Starts 2-Year Sentence

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island doctor began serving two years in prison on Friday for driving drunk and killing a hospital technician on her way to work in Smithtown.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, there wasn't a single dry eye in the courtroom as the victim's son, Bryan Graves, stood up and told Dr. Thomas Stavola he forgave him.

The cardiologist then responded with tears running down his face that he had "tremendous regret" for what he did, Hall reported.

It was June, 2014 when Stavola, who pleaded guilty, drove drunk and crashed his car into Monica Peterman's car, killing the wife and mother of three.

Stavola allegedly fled the scene on foot and was later caught by police.

Graves said he hopes that when Stavola is done serving his time, he returns to his field in cardiology, Hall reported.

"We don't hold anything against him. We want him to know he can get up from where he was, you know he made a bad mistake," said Graves.