OMAHA, Neb. — A man convicted of hitting and killing a western Iowa woman in a crash that occurred nearly 10-years ago in Nebraska, will serve approximately two decades in prison. According to KETV and other media reports, a Douglas County, Nebraska judge, Monday sentenced 29-year-old Eswin Mejia 20- to 22-years in prison for motor vehicle homicide and flight to avoid arrest.

Mejia caused the crash that killed Sarah Root near 33rd and L streets in 2016. In December, he pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to appear and no contest to motor vehicle homicide. Authorities said Mejia was driving drunk and street racing when he rear-ended Root’s car at a stoplight. Prosecutors said his blood alcohol level was 0.179%, and at the time of impact, he was driving 71 mph while Root was traveling at 3 mph. She was coming to a stop near 33rd and L streets.

Mejia, who was in the country illegally, was not put on an immigration hold, following the crash. The Honduran native who was living in the United States illegally at the time, fled the United States after posting a $5,000 bond (an allowed 10% of $50,000). It wasn’t until February 27th, 2025 that Honduran National Police said it had arrested Mejia, who was then extradited back to the U.S. in March 2025.

Root, a Council Bluffs native, had recently graduated from Bellevue University with a 4.0 grade point average when she was killed.