© 2026 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Man Sentenced In Hit-And-Run Of Woman Pushing Wheelchair

Winding Road
Bobbi Jones
/
publicdomainpictures.net
A man is accused of drunk driving and hitting a woman and her son, who was in a wheelchair.

A 24-year-old man accused of being drunk when he struck a woman with his car as she pushed her son in a wheelchair across a busy suburban Detroit road has been sentenced to prison.

WDIV-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2vFwAeD ) Xhuljan Gjinaj apologized before being sentenced Thursday to 71 months to 15 years in prison.

He earlier pleaded no contest to charges including operating while intoxicated. A no contest plea isn't an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.

Linda Khayya was killed the night of Aug. 31, 2015, in Sterling Heights. Her son, who was 15 years old at the time, was hospitalized afterward.

Gjinaj didn't stop at the scene, but was identified after the vehicle was found.

With federal funding eliminated, WKAR relies more than ever on community support to sustain essential services that remain freely available to everyone in mid-Michigan. Your support helps shape what comes next for public media in our region. The best way to support WKAR is by becoming a sustaining member today or by upgrading your current gift. Support WKAR TV Here | Support WKAR Radio Here.