A Black special education teacher in Savannah, Georgia, is being remembered for the way she poured into her students after she was killed in a crash tied to a federal immigration enforcement operation.
Linda Davis, 52, was driving to Herman W. Hesse K-8 School on Monday morning (February 16) when another vehicle struck hers less than a half-mile from campus. Students were not present because it was a staff workday, but Davis was headed in to prepare for the week. She later died from her injuries.
Authorities identified the other driver as Oscar Vasquez Lopez, 38, a Guatemalan national whom Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were attempting to detain.
ICE spokesperson Lindsay Williams said Tuesday (February 17) that Lopez had received a final order of removal from a federal immigration judge in 2024 and had “no other criminal history.” According to Williams, ICE officers activated sirens and blue lights to initiate a traffic stop. Lopez initially pulled over but then drove away as officers approached.
Williams said Lopez made a U-turn and ran a stoplight before crashing. When asked directly whether ICE agents pursued him, Williams responded, “Chased? I wouldn’t say that. They followed him until he crashed.” He added that he did not know how far Lopez had fled before the collision occurred.
The Chatham County Police Department confirmed Lopez is in custody and has been charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Local police were clear about their role — or lack thereof. “... the Chatham County Police Department was not a part of the DHS/ICE operation, attempted traffic stop, or pursuit. The Chatham County Police Department was also not aware of the DHS/ICE operation or pursuit until after the crash,” the department said in a public statement.
Davis’ death has intensified scrutiny around vehicle pursuits and enforcement tactics. Chester Ellis, chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, pointed to the county’s policy limiting pursuits.
“We have a no-chase policy [in Chatham County], and the no-chase policy is to help protect our citizens more than it is anything else,” Ellis said in remarks to local media. He suggested there may have been other ways to prevent the situation from escalating.
At the center of the debate is a community grieving a woman described as an “exceptional educator.” Principal Alonna McMullen said Davis “dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued, and capable of success.”
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