GREENVILLE, Texas – A drunken driver who struck and killed a pedestrian, then fled the scene has been sentenced by a Texas jury to life in prison for murder and leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

The jurors handed down the maximum punishment to Brandon Keith Burcham, 31, of Farmersville, Texas, on Tuesday.

Burcham was convicted two weeks earlier for the Aug. 13, 2016, death of James Wylie, 59, struck down while crossing the street in front of the Red Lobster restaurant in this east Texas community.

Prosecutors said Burcham fled the scene in his pickup truck, then struck a vehicle on the Interstate 30 service road near the restaurant, and was finally stopped by a state trooper several miles later.

They said he was drunk at the time, and had two prior drunken driving convictions on his record.

Burcham was originally charged with intoxicated manslaughter, a lesser charge, in addition to leaving the scene of an accident involving death.

But a county grand jury indicted him for murder in November, allowing for the life sentence. He must serve several years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Burcham had been free on $70,000 bail since his arrest, but was taken from the Hunt County Courthouse in handcuffs following his sentencing.

Details for this story were provided by the Greenville, Texas, Herald Banner.