Monday, Judge Chad A. Kepros in Johnson County District Court handed down his sentence in a fatal 2023 car crash in Iowa City. The judge ruled, 25-year-old Drake Brezina of Washington, who pled guilty to a pair of felonies for his involvement in the crash that killed 30-year-old Kristina Pearson of Wellman, and injured her partner Christopher Brown, would serve five years of probation. The charges, Homicide By Vehicle-Reckless Driving, a Class C Felony and Serious Injury By Vehicle, a Class D Felony, carried a maximum possible sentence of 10 and five years respectively.

According to court documents, the incident occurred in August of 2023, at the intersection of Highway 6 and Boyrum Street in Iowa City, when Brezina ran a red light in a 2009 Chevy Silverado, striking Pearson’s vehicle. Pearson died later the same day from her injuries at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Brown, survived with extensive injuries.

A police statement in those documents says that Brezina told authorities on scene that he had run a red light, had been distracted, and was looking away from the roadway. The statement goes on to say that officers reviewed footage from multiple traffic cameras showing Brezina holding his cell phone in front of his face, entering the intersection 15 seconds after the light had turned red, and traveling 44mph in a 35mph zone. Brezina was arrested in connection to the crash in September of last year.

As part of his five years of supervised probation, Brezina is required to commit no new law violations, meet all financial obligations, including fines and more than $100,000 in restitution, have contact with a probation officer, and perform community service by regularly scheduling speaking engagements, verified by the probation officer, to talk about the dangers of distracted driving.

Pearson’s family has filed a wrongful death suit against Brezina, which is set for trial in February of 2026.