Columbia woman takes plea deal in deadly 2023 crash with motorcycle

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR'S NOTE: AI was used in background research for this article

A Columbia woman scheduled to stand trial in March pleaded guilty during a pre-trial conference Monday to a fatal 2023 crash that killed a teenage motorcyclist.

Elizabeth Lopez was charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident following the collision on West Broadway. She pleaded guilty to three counts of leaving the scene and the manslaughter charge was dropped.

The crash occurred on Aug. 5, 2023, and resulted in the death of 18-year-old Walker Davis. Police say Lopez pulled her vehicle out of an apartment complex in the 3600 block of West Broadway into the path of two motorcycles, causing a collision that killed Davis and injured two other people.

After the crash, police say Lopez re-entered the Kelly's Ridge apartments parking lot and fled the scene. Court documents allege she went back to her apartment and told her boyfriend about the crash. While officers investigated the scene and towed her vehicle from outside the apartment, Lopez allegedly did not make herself known to the police.

Lopez reportedly told investigators later that she consumed an alcoholic drink after returning to her apartment. She contacted the police early the next morning to provide a statement and insurance information.

Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced March 31.