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Insets: Linda Davis (Savannah-Chatham County Public School System) and Oscar Vasquez Lopez (DHS). Background: Davis” vehicle after Vasquez Lopez allegedly hit her while fleeing ICE (WTOC).
A tragic incident unfolded in Georgia when a teacher, cherished within her school community, lost her life after being struck by a man attempting to avoid an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) traffic stop.
Oscar Vasquez Lopez, 38, faces charges including first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving following the death of Linda Davis, a teacher at Hesse K-8 School in Savannah. This information was confirmed by the Chatham County Police Department.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that ICE agents attempted to apprehend Vasquez Lopez, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, who had a deportation order issued in 2024. Around 7:45 a.m. on Monday, agents observed him entering a vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Though Vasquez Lopez initially stopped, he soon sped away, executing a reckless U-turn and running a red light. This led to a fatal collision with Davis’ car at the intersection of Whitefield Avenue and Truman Parkway, near her school.
Law enforcement officers from Chatham County, unaware of the ongoing ICE operation, responded swiftly to the crash from a nearby precinct. Tragically, Davis was pronounced dead at the scene, while Vasquez Lopez was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Neither vehicle had any passengers.
Following the crash, Vasquez Lopez was taken into custody, with local police learning of the ICE operation only after the unfortunate event had occurred.
“This vehicular homicide is an absolute tragedy and deadly consequence of politicians and the media constantly demonizing ICE officers and encouraging those here illegally to resist arrest — a felony,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “These dangerous tactics are putting people’s lives at risk. Fleeing from and resisting federal law enforcement is not only a crime but extraordinarily dangerous and puts oneself, our officers and innocent civilians at risk. Now, an innocent bystander has lost their life.”
Meanwhile, students and staff are reeling from Davis’ death.
“Dr. Linda Davis was a beloved member of our school family and her loss has affected us deeply,” principal Alonna McMullen wrote in a Facebook post.
McMullen called Davis an “exceptional educator” who just started working at the school in September.
“She believed wholeheartedly in her students’ abilities and worked tirelessly to support their success,” McMullen wrote in a statement obtained by USA Today. “She dedicated her career to ensuring that every child felt supported, valued, and capable of success. Her kindness, patience, and enthusiasm created a nurturing environment for her students and inspired those around her. … Her contributions to the students and staff will not be forgotten.”