DOUGLAS COUNTY —The suspect arrested in connection with a hit-and-run accident that killed a 10-year-old Kansas girl is now in jail in Kansas.
Jose Alfredo Galiano Meza, 28, Overland Park, arrived via secure transport to the Douglas County Correctional Facility Sunday night, according to Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister.
On June 4, U.S. Marshals and Indiana State Troopers notified the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office that Meza was in custody in Martinsville, Indiana, according to Armbrister.
The Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for Meza’s arrest as the suspected driver that struck a motorcycle May 14 at East 1900 Road and Kansas Highway 10. Brooklyn Brouhard, 10, of Eudora, later died from injuries suffered in the crash. She was a passenger on the motorcycle driven by her grandfather Barry Larson, 54, of Eudora, who was also injured.
Authorities in Indiana located a vehicle with Mesa inside and took him into custody, and the Sheriff’s Office did the work to have him extradited to Kansas to face charges.
After conducting an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, deputies early in the investigation were able to identify Mesa as the driver of the van that struck the motorcycle and left the scene. Mesa had been in Lawrence earlier in the day on May 14 for a painting job and was driving back to the Kansas City area.
Witnesses reported the driver of the white van after the collision proceeded down the ramp leaving its bumper behind and returned to eastbound K-10. Based on vehicle debris at the scene, witness interviews and assistance from area law enforcement agencies, deputies identified the vehicle and seized it on May 16 in the Kansas City area. After identifying Mesa, deputies and fellow law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service had attempted to locate Mesa.
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