Man pleads guilty for deadly McKinney Avenue crash

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A North Texas man who was drunk and killed a woman when he slammed into the back of her car in Uptown Dallas will spend three months in jail after pleading guilty to intoxication manslaughter.

Police said 34-year-old Emily Javadi’s car was hit from behind on McKinney Avenue two years ago as she was putting gym equipment in the back seat. She was thrown into a pole and later died from her injuries.

Police documents show Travis Elwell of Mesquite admitted to having two Jack Daniels and Cokes in the hours before the crash. The arresting officer said he had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He was driving "at a high rate of speed" and failed to notice Javadi's parked car ahead of him, police said.

Javadi was 34 years old, a businesswoman, and violinist and baked and sold cake pops. Her mother, Karen, had just spoken to her over the phone minutes before the crash happened. Javadi was on her way to a workout class.

In the two years since the crash, friends and family have organized benefits in her honor, raising tens of thousands of dollars for charity.

Karen Javadi says her focus has remained on her daughter's bright life and her legacy, not on Elwell. But she is glad he will go to prison.

“I never felt anger, I just felt such loss," she said. "I found out in court there were things I did that week I didn't even remember."

The Javadis originally wanted Elwell to get life in prison but later had a change of heart. In a plea deal they agreed on with prosecutors, Elwell was sentenced to 120 days in jail and, starting next year, a week in jail on the anniversary of her death for the next ten years. He will also get ten years probation.

"It didn't matter if it was 180 days or 20 years," Karen said. "For us, it's always going to be the same."

Mothers Against Drunk Driving released a statement saying, "We always hope for the maximum sentence possible, but no sentence ever brings back a loved one. We urge lawmakers to understand these are violent crimes and they need to do everything in their power to prevent them from happening."

Benefits in Emily's honor have raised tens of thousands of dollars for charity. Their foundation is called the Emily Javadi Foundation and will have another benefit coming up March 25.