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An elementary school teacher from Savannah, Georgia tragically lost her life on Monday morning following a car crash involving a suspect evading federal immigration officers.
The accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. at a busy crossroads, as reported by the Chatham County Police Department. First responders arrived to discover two vehicles had collided. Both drivers were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the woman succumbed to her injuries. The male driver, identified as 38-year-old Oscar Vasquez Lopez, survived with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools identified the deceased as Dr. Linda Davis, a dedicated teacher at Hesse K-8 School. The school district conveyed that grief counselors would be on hand throughout the week to offer support to both students and staff.
“Dr. Linda Davis was a cherished member of our school community, and her sudden passing has deeply impacted us all,” stated Hesse K-8 School in a heartfelt message.
The Guatemalan national, who was attempting to flee from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), now faces charges of homicide following the tragic incident.
Police said there were no passengers in either vehicle. A second bystander vehicle was also involved in the incident, but no injuries were reported and no one from that vehicle required medical treatment.
Vasquez Lopez was taken into custody and is expected to be booked into the Chatham County Detention Center. He faces charges of first-degree homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, driving without a valid license and failure to obey a traffic control device.
esse K-8 School teacher Linda Davis was killed in a car crash near the school Monday morning. (Hesse K-8 School/Facebook)
In a statement, DHS said ICE officers had attempted to apprehend Vasquez Lopez, whom the agency described as a Guatemalan national with a final order of removal issued by a federal judge in 2024.
The agency said he initially complied with a traffic stop but then fled, making a U-turn and running a red light before colliding with another vehicle.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the crash “an absolute tragedy” and said fleeing from federal law enforcement is both a crime and dangerous.
“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,” McLaughlin said. “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.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin (Fox News)
Local police said they were not involved in the federal operation, attempted stop or pursuit and were unaware of the enforcement action until after the crash.
Officers on routine patrol were near the scene and responded almost immediately, authorities said.