Beloved Ga. middle school teacher killed in crash after 21-year-old accused of running red light

POLK COUNTY, Ga. — A community is mourning the loss of a beloved middle school teacher killed in a car crash on Valentine’s Day just moments after leaving school for the day.

David Brown taught at Cedartown Middle School in Polk County.

Georgia State Patrol said a little after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 21-year-old Jamie Chavez-Lopez was traveling north on GA-1, approaching its intersection with Collard Valley Road.

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At the same time, 58-year-old David Brown was driving west on Collard Valley Road while attempting to go straight across GA-1, troopers said.

According to the crash report, a third car was stopped in the left southbound lane of GA-1, the road Chavez-Lopez was driving down.

Troopers said Chavez-Lopez failed to obey the stop light and hit the left side of Brown’s car head-on, causing Brown’s car to flip and hit the left side of the third vehicle that was stopped.

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Chavez-Lopez told troopers that she thought the light was green for her and that Brown pulled out in front of her.

The driver of the third vehicle told troopers the light was red for Chavez-Lopez and green for Brown. Troopers said witnesses of the crash confirmed.

Brown was taken to the hospital, where he later died.

Channel 2′s Tom Regan was at the middle school on Thursday, where he talked to students and parents who said Brown’s death has been difficult to accept.

“Everybody is just grieving I guess,” student Natalie Pace said.

Natalie’s mom, Kimberly Pace, said everyone is still in shock.

“Once they said it was a teacher, I said, ‘Oh my goodness,’” Kimberly Pace said. “It’s sad.”

The district issued a statement, calling Brown a valuable member of the Polk School District family.

Chavez-Lopez was charged with distracted driving, vehicular homicide and using a phone while driving.

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Brown was a beloved teacher at Cedartown Middle School.

“Polk School District mourns the loss of Mr. Brown as he was a valued member of our PSD family,” Polk County School District officials wrote on Facebook. “Please join us in remembering Mr. Brown’s family and the students and staff of Cedartown Middle School during this difficult time.”

District leaders added that they are providing additional counselors and therapists on campus for students and staff.

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