A Savannah school community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Linda Davis, a beloved educator at Hesse K-8 School, who was killed Monday morning after a man fleeing federal immigration authorities crashed into her vehicle.

The crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. on Truman Parkway in Savannah, during what officials say began as a traffic stop initiated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

According to ICE, 38-year-old Oscar Vasquez-Lopez, a Guatemalan national who the agency says was unlawfully present in the United States and had a 2024 removal order, fled the stop. Authorities say he accelerated away from agents before crashing into Davis’s vehicle.

Linda Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vasquez-Lopez now faces multiple charges, including first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and additional traffic-related offenses.

The Savannah Police Department emphasized that it had no involvement in the pursuit. The department maintains a no-chase policy in most traffic stop situations, citing public safety concerns, and confirmed that no local officers participated in the attempted stop.

At Hesse K-8, grief counselors were made available to students and staff as the school community processed the loss. Principal Alonna McMullen described Davis as “a beloved member of our school family,” praising her dedication to students and her lasting impact in the classroom.

Parents and community members gathered outside the school Monday, some leaving flowers and handwritten notes. Many described Davis as patient, nurturing, and deeply committed to her students — the kind of teacher who showed up early, stayed late, and made children feel supported both academically and personally.

As news of the crash spread, reactions online were swift and wide-ranging. Some expressed outrage at Vasquez-Lopez’s decision to flee, calling the tragedy preventable. Others questioned the circumstances of the federal pursuit, asking whether enforcement tactics should be reevaluated when chases result in civilian deaths.