Former Dallas City Council member Carolyn Davis killed in wrong-way crash
DALLAS - Former Dallas City Council member Carolyn Davis was killed and her daughter was critically injured in a wrong-way crash in east Oak Cliff.
The fatal accident happened Monday night around 7:45 as Davis and her daughter were headed west on East Ledbetter Drive near Lancaster Road. They were headed to vacation bible school when they were hit head-on by an SUV.
Davis died in the violent crash. Her 26-year-old daughter, Melissa Davis-Dunn was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Current council members are mourning the loss of the 57-year-old former councilwoman who served District 7 between 2007 and 2015.
"I worked with this woman for a lot of years as she battled for #D7 and the community. My heart hurts for all those impacted by this tragedy," said District 10 Councilman Adam McGough.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Davis family and all of District 7, as we mourn the loss of a D7 champion, Honorable Carolyn Davis. Last night she was involved in a fatal car accident that also left her daughter in critical condition. Life is precious and can change in an instant, never miss an opportunity to tell those closest to you that you love them," said District 7 Councilman Adam Bazaldua.
The man driving the SUV was identified as 36-year-old Jonathan Moore. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to be charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault charges once he is released from the hospital.
Records show Moore has a criminal history that includes multiple DWI convictions and other arrests. He just completed five years of probation for drunk driving last week.
On July 10, 2014, Moore pleaded guilty to a felony DWI. The district attorney’s office offered him a plea bargain of ten years in prison probated to serve five years of probation and a $2,000 fine. He served five full years of probation.
“Once an individual is discharged from probation, and they’ve served their five years, the judge has no more jurisdiction over the individual,” explained David Finn, a former judge. “And by that I mean he has no more power over the individual.”
Moore’s probation conditions included an interlock device on his vehicle, a drug patch and a portable alcohol monitor.
Moore completed his probation this past Wednesday. All alcohol detection devices were removed on Monday, just hours before he was accused of driving drunk again.
Even factoring in Moore's DWI history, Finn said the judge couldn't have done much else since he completed his probation.
“You’d have to change the law to change that situation,” Finn said. “But once an individual finishes probation, and they’ve done everything right and haven't reoffended, the court has absolutely no jurisdiction over them. And I’ll tell you: these judges are strict on that.”
Davis pleaded guilty earlier this year to corruption charges for taking bribes from a real estate developer. She was set to be sentenced on Sept. 20.
“She and her lawyer both felt that they had generated some evidence to resolve some of these issues, and she was looking forward to that,” said Diane Ragsdale, a longtime friend.
Davis' case will be dismissed. If she was a cooperating witness for the government against anyone in other corruption cases, her death could negatively impact the government’s case.
Funeral arrangements are pending.