VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Family and friends are gathering on Thursday to remember 31-year-old Curttila "Tila" Davis of Portsmouth. Her cousin, Sacha Walton, confirmed to 13News Now that she was the woman killed in a crash at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront on December 27.
Family and friends gathered at 6:30 p.m. on the Boardwalk at 35th Street by the Oceanaire Resort Hotel.
"Tila loved the beach. The Oceanaire was one of her favorite hotels out here," Walton said. "Because she came out here for Christmas and spent a few days, we felt that this would be a good honor."
They held candles as they put their heads down and sent prayers up.
They're still reeling from the sudden loss caused by a crash that happened just two blocks from where they gathered on the Friday after Christmas.
Police said the accident happened between two vehicles at the intersection of 35th Street and Pacific Avenue shortly before 10:30 a.m. Davis was allegedly leaving the hotel when the crash happened.
Officers determined that the victim, Davis, was driving a Nissan Sentra westbound in the 200 block of 35th Street. After stopping, she pulled into the intersection before being hit by a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Police said the impact caused Davis's vehicle to be pushed into the southbound travel lane of Pacific Avenue, where it was hit again by the pickup truck.
Walton told 13News Now that Davis's daughter was in the car at the time of the crash. She was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
"She just has this flare about her where she just loved everybody and everybody loved her," Walton said as she remembered her cousin. "You never understand why things happen, but because we believe in the power of God and knowing that there's a better place people go to, it comforts us."
Instead of searching for answers, family and friends are turning to each other for strength and holding on to memories.
"She shined," Walton said. "She just had a light about her."
The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup truck was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening juries.
After investigating, officers said that Davis failed to yield to approaching traffic.