SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Georgia school community is grieving after a morning crash tied to a federal immigration operation left a longtime educator dead and reignited a fierce debate over the dangers of high-speed pursuits in populated areas.

Authorities say Dr. Linda Davis, a special education teacher at Herman W. Hesse K-8 School, was driving to work when a vehicle fleeing federal agents ran a red light and slammed into her car near the school. Davis was taken to a hospital and later died from her injuries, according to school officials and police.

The suspect, identified as Oscar Vasquez Lopez, a Guatemalan national, was targeted during what Homeland Security officials described as an attempted traffic stop by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Investigators say he initially pulled over, then made a sudden move to escape, accelerating through city streets before the collision.

Lopez remains in custody and faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license, officials said. Reports also indicate he was under a final order of removal issued in 2024.

The crash has triggered sharp criticism from local leaders who say federal agents did not coordinate with local law enforcement and appear to have pursued a non-violent suspect through a busy corridor near a school. Some officials argue the public-safety calculus is breaking down: when the target runs, the danger spreads—often to people who never had a choice.

As flowers and tributes gather, the central question hangs over Savannah: in the split-second decision to chase, who weighs the risk—and who pays the price when it goes wrong?