OMAHA, Neb. [KETV] — The Douglas County, Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office has confirmed a man accused of hitting and killing a 21-year-old woman from Council Bluffs in 2016, was arrested in Honduras. Sarah Root was killed in the crash near 33rd and L streets in Omaha on Jan. 31st, 2016. Police believe Eswin Mejia was driving drunk and street racing, when he hit Sarah’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. He was charged with motor vehicle homicide and failure to appear.

On Friday, Honduras police posted on social media announcing his capture. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest to KETV in Omaha. The case caught national attention after Sarah’s mother, Michelle, fought to get a law passed that would require police to detain any undocumented immigrant who commits a crime resulting in death or serious injury.

After years of trying to get the bill passed in both chambers of Congress, “Sarah’s Law” was signed into law by President Trump Jan. 29, 2025, as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act to strengthen the legislation by requiring illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes against Americans to be detained.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office could not immediately confirm Mejia will be extradited, but the negotiations between federal governments will be part of the next steps.