The man behind the wheel in the hit-and-run crash that left a two-year-old dead was sentenced Tuesday.

Felix Santos, who was 18 at the time of the crash, previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter, reckless driving and leaving the scene of the crash.

The defense was hoping for youthful offender status. But the judge sentenced him to three to nine years in prison.

Santos hit three people on Shonnard Street on Memorial Day of last year. Two-year-old Jameisha Stanford was killed. Her younger brother and father were also hurt.

Police video showed Santos tossing a bottle from the vehicle which later tested positive for alcohol.

Santos fled to North Carolina, where he was arrested and brought back to Syracuse.

"It certainly wouldn't have brought Jameisha back, but I think it would have made things easier on the family if he had stopped and done the right thing.  It would have made things easier on him if he had done the right thing.  He just made a series of horrible choices that day. Fleeing the scene initially was one of them and the fleeing to North Carolina was another,” said Senior Assistant District Attorney Chris Bednarski.

Santos apologized for his actions and the prosecution read a statement on behalf of the victim's family.