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Father of wreck victim doesn't want driver extradited

01:20 PM CST on Thursday, November 29, 2007

Associated Press

AUSTIN -- The father of University of Texas student killed in a wreck more than a decade ago urged prosecutors to stop seeking the extradition of the car's driver who now lives in Peru.

"I don't see the point in bringing her here to prosecute her," Tommy Brashier said Wednesday. "It potentially destroys more lives. Hasn't there been enough tragedy already?"

His daughter, Lindsay Brashier, 18, died in 1996 when the car she was in crashed into a concrete wall and a pole. The driver, Evelyn Mezzich, was Lindsay Brashier's roommate and had a .1 blood alcohol level, then the legal limit for intoxication, according to an affidavit.

Mezzich was charged with intoxication manslaughter but disappeared about a year into court proceedings. The FBI found her in Peru, where Mezzich is a citizen, but a treaty between the countries did not allow her extradition at the time.

A new treaty between the U.S. and Peru has since been ratified, leading Travis County prosecutors to begin drafting an extradition request for Mezzich.

The case received attention recently, partly because of Mezzich's MySpace page. It showed pictures of her partying and drinking, with a quote that says, "Life's too short ... so live it up."

KVUE News

Evelyn Mezzich

Lindsay Brashier's mother, Marilyn Datz of Houston, said she pushed prosecutors to pursue the case in part because Mezzich has never apologized to her.

However, Lindsay Brashier's father said Mezzich apologized to him several times after the wreck, including twice after driving to see him at his home in Waco. He and Datz are divorced.

"This story has opened up wounds for a lot of people," Tommy Brashier said. "I don't think it's productive, and I am not sure that bringing Evelyn back here will have a positive impact."

Mezzich's lawyer said the vehicle was being chased by another car when it crashed. Brashier said another of the car's passengers, Tatiana Sartori, told him after the crash of being chased. Sartori, who lives in her native Brazil, was paralyzed in the wreck.

"It could have been my daughter driving," Tommy Brashier said.

Before Mezzich disappeared, attorneys had discussed a plea bargain sentencing her to six months in jail and 10 years' probation, Tommy Brashier and Datz said. While Tommy Brashier said he supported the deal, Datz favored a long prison term.

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