Cranston Woman Convicted For Killing West Warwick Man In Hit-And-Run Crash

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston woman was convicted after state prosecutors proved she killed a man in a hit-and-run crash, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said last week.

On March 5, a jury found Skyla Gilroy, 24, guilty of driving to endanger resulting in death and failure to stop after being involved in an accident that resulted in death. The crash in Warwick on Dec. 22, 2020, killed Donald Boss, 51, of West Warwick.

"Hit and runs are particularly tragic crimes made worse by a driver failing to take responsibility in the moment," Neronha said. "Had this defendant immediately reported the collision, the outcome may have been different. Instead, she will undoubtedly serve a significant sentence for her crimes. My thoughts are with Donald’s family, and I hope they can find some closure, knowing that justice has been served. And thanks to the Warwick Police Department for their exceptional work in the investigation of this case."

During the trial, prosecutors proved Gilroy drove away after a crash that killed Boss. On the morning of Dec. 22, 2020, Warwick police were called to Airport Road for a report of a man being struck by a car. When officers arrived, they found Boss lying in the road unconscious.

According to witness testimony, Boss and two others traveled to Airport Road to buy drugs. When the seller arrived, Donald approached the vehicle, and after a brief argument, Gilroy began driving away with the victim still hanging on to the vehicle. As the vehicle accelerated, Boss fell to the ground and later died, prosecutors said.

Video surveillance from the area captured footage of the crash, which involved a blue Nissan Rogue with three people in the SUV. Investigators confirmed Gilroy was the seller’s girlfriend, and she drove the same type of car identified in video surveillance footage. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators seized the Gilroy's SUV, which they later confirmed as the same vehicle captured on video surveillance, prosecutors said.

"A man died because of this defendant’s choice to leave the scene of the accident," Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor said. "I hope Donald’s family feels a sense of closure knowing this defendant will be held accountable for her crimes. I appreciate the efforts of our officers and detectives, as well as the prosecutors at the Attorney General’s Office that worked tirelessly on this tough case."

Gilroy is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23.

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