Heart doctor Comazzi enters plea in hit-andrun death
A cardiologist from Sonora pleaded not guilty Thursday to hit-andrun and vehicular homicide involving the death of a 26-year-old good Samaritan on Highway 99.
James Comazzi, 68, is accused of hitting and killing Juliana Ramos of Reedley on Feb. 10 as she stopped and helped the victim of an accident on northbound Highway 99 near the Manning Avenue exit in Fresno County.
Ramos, a nurse, stopped her car in the median and was offering aid to the victim of a crash between a big rig and a Hyundai Elantra. The Hyundai driver had major injuries.
The California Highway Patrol said Ramos was hit by the driver of a red SUV, who sped off after the collision.
An anonymous tip led investigators to Comazzi’s home in Sonora where they found the red SUV involved in the crash. Comazzi was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail. He later was released after posting a $15,000 bond.
Comazzi appeared electronically for his arraignment before Judge James Kelley and is being represented by attorneys Jeffrey Hammerschmidt and Tony Capozzi.
The Medical Board of California is trying to suspend Comazzi’s medical license while the criminal case continues.
“Our position is that Dr. Comazzi poses a threat to the public and should not be practicing medicine,” said Marianne Pansa with the state Attorney General’s office.
There were no records of any disciplinary or malpractice actions against Comazzi’s license on the board’s website as of Monday.
Comazzi’s address of record is listed as Sierra Cardiology at the main Adventist Health Sonora building on Greenley Road in Sonora.
Sierra Cardiology is described on the hospital’s website as having “two highly-trained and experienced cardiologists specialized in diagnosing
and treating various heart conditions.”
A link to Comazzi’s profile on the Adventist Health website is no longer accessible.
Comazzi founded Sierra Cardiology in 1983, according to a past questionnaire conducted by The Union Democrat, which also said he grew up in El Sobrante and completed medical school, residency and fellowship at Loma Linda University.
Adventist Health Sonora spokeswoman Jaquelyn Lugg said that Comazzi is currently unable to see patients at this time when asked on Monday if he is still employed by the hospital and seeing patients.
Lugg also said Comazzi was unable to see patients at the time news broke about his arrest at his Sonora home on Oct. 4 by Fresno-area CHP investigators, who reportedly worked with officers from the Sonora area and the Stanislaus County auto theft unit to match the description of the vehicle and conduct surveillance on him.
The hospital’s medical staff is currently following a confidential peer review process as laid out by the staff’s bylaws, Lugg said, though she added that the hospital was not at liberty to comment further.
“While we cannot disclose details, we can assure our community that we have taken all steps to protect our patients and staff,” she said in a statement via email Monday.
Comazzi is scheduled to appear back in court on Jan. 13.