An East Palo Alto man who fatally struck a motorcyclist while fleeing police in a high-speed chase was sentenced Friday to 59 years to life in prison, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

In July, a jury found Eric Banford, 48, guilty of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, felony evasion causing death and felony hit-and-run causing death.

Before handing out the sentence, Superior Court Judge Beth Freeman said Banford already had one death on his record so she would not be lenient, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. Banford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for fatally punching someone in the head during a March 1991 drug robbery in East Palo Alto. This was also a three-strikes case, according to the prosecutor.

“Banford must serve 59 years from the date of his arrest before he is eligible for parole,” Wagstaffe wrote in an email Friday. “That will be in 2070 when he is 105 years old. Justice was done by Judge Freeman today.”

On Sept. 28, 2011, at about 5:30 a.m., Banford struck and killed Danny Lee Dixon, 50, of East Palo Alto, in a head-on collision at University Avenue and Bay Road while trying to evade East Palo Alto police who were investigating a burglary in the area, according to prosecutors.

Banford led officers on a brief but wild ride, driving at speeds of up to 70 mph with his lights off, going through stop signs and red lights, and at one point lighting up a crack pipe, according to prosecutors.

Banford’s defense attorney, Peter Goldscheider, said his client didn’t intend to kill Dixon and doesn’t deserve to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

“He has a bad record, but despite the egregious driving and loss of life, it’s not a murder,” he said.

Email Bonnie Eslinger at beslinger@dailynewsgroup.com; follow her at twitter.com/bonnieeslinger.