Alyssa Davis death: Teenage girl pleads guilty to dangerous driving
A 17-year-old girl charged after the death of Alyssa Davis in Conception Bay South in December has pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, while her mother is reacting strongly to the withdrawal of a more serious charge.
The Crown is withdrawing another charge of street racing. Davis's family is not happy with that decision.
"We are disappointed that one of the charges that we thought was pretty important was dropped. Not sure why," said Sherree-Lin Kavanagh, Alyssa's mother.
"But we will keep fighting for Alyssa. Somebody has to be held accountable for her loss, our loss, for everybody's loss."
The girl who entered the guilty plea Tuesday was not driving the car that Davis was in.
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Davis, also 17, was killed in an accident just before Christmas on the Conception Bay South bypass.
Following a Royal Newfoundland Constabulary investigation, the Crown had initially argued that two vehicles — one full of passengers, including Davis — had been racing on Peacekeepers Way when one of the drivers lost control.
While the Crown is withdrawing the street racing charge against one driver, the same charge remains in effect for now for the girl who drove the car that crashed.
'Driving is an adult responsibility'
Davis's family believes the girls should have been charged as adults.
"Driving is an adult responsibility, and when you make those decisions, you should be charged and have consequences to go with those adult charges," said Kavanagh.
Neither of the youth can be named because of their age.
The other driver is set for court on July 26.
Alyssa was amazing, said her mother.
"She wanted to be a nurse. First she wanted to be a psychiatrist and a police officer, a social worker, and then she settled on being a nurse because she wanted to give back," Kavanagh said.
"She wanted to help people feel better, become better."
Davis was a student at Queen Elizabeth High School in Foxtrap, and an avid swimmer. The manager of her swim club has described Davis as a happy girl with a vibrant personality.
Her mother said Davis was an active volunteer in her community — fundraising, helping seniors and working with disadvantaged people.
"This court case is making it seem like she didn't matter, that she's not a person, but a name on a piece of paper, but she mattered," said Kavanagh.