Man charged in a fatal crash that killed a Council Bluffs woman will stand trial

News

April 28th, 2025 by Ric Hanson

KETV in Omaha is reporting the man accused of hitting and killing an Iowa woman in an Omaha crash will go to trial.  As previously report, Eswin Mejia allegedly caused the crash that killed Sarah Root near 33rd and L streets in Omaha, back in 2016. Authorities believe Mejia was driving drunk and street racing when he rear ended Root’s car at a stoplight. Mejia, who was in the country illegally, was not put on an immigration hold. He posted $5,000 of his bond and vanished.

Last month, he was charged with motor vehicle homicide and failure to appear. He was held on a $100 million bond. Prosecutors said his blood alcohol level was 0.179, and at the time of impact, he was driving 71 mph to Root’s 3 mph. She was coming to a stop near 33rd and L streets. Prosecutors said the impact was so forceful, it sent the vehicle Root was in flying 306-feet.

Mejia faces up to 20 years in prison for motor vehicle homicide and two years in prison for flight to avoid arrest.