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Tragic Hit-and-Run Incident Claims Life of USC Student

Memorial for USC Student

News Summary

Nathanial ‘Nate’ G. Baker, a 21-year-old junior at the University of South Carolina, was killed in a hit-and-run accident involving a driver identified as an illegal immigrant. The incident has sparked discussions on immigration policies and road safety. Baker was riding his motorcycle when he was struck, leading to his hospitalization and eventual death. The driver has been charged with several offenses, and authorities have highlighted a need for urgent immigration enforcement following this tragedy.

South Carolina – Nathanial “Nate” G. Baker, a 21-year-old junior at the University of South Carolina, was tragically killed on Wednesday in a hit-and-run accident near the university campus. The incident has been linked to a 24-year-old driver, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, who is reported to be an illegal immigrant from El Salvador. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Fernandez-Cruz was “in our country illegally” and highlighted that Baker “should be alive today” following this tragic event.

Fernandez-Cruz has been charged with several serious offenses, including hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to provide information and render aid, failure to yield the right of way, and driving without a license. The fatal crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday when Fernandez-Cruz allegedly failed to yield while making a left turn at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly streets. In the process, she struck Baker, who was riding his motorcycle, leading to his hospitalization and subsequent death as confirmed by the Richland County Coroner’s Office.

Following the accident, it was reported that Fernandez-Cruz fled the scene on foot but was later apprehended by a Columbia Police Department officer on Greene Street. Alongside her, two male companions were present at the time of the crash and also fled the scene. Their immigration statuses remain unclear. It is important to note that, at the time of the incident, Fernandez-Cruz was wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for her illegal status.

DHS officials revealed that Fernandez-Cruz had previous encounters with law enforcement. She was arrested by border patrol in Hidalgo, Texas, on December 24, 2016, and was subsequently ordered to return to El Salvador by an immigration judge on September 6, 2018. This context adds urgency to the discussions surrounding immigration enforcement in the aftermath of this tragic event.

Nate Baker was pursuing a degree in business at the University of South Carolina and was a resident of Glen Allen, Virginia. The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, to which Baker belonged, expressed profound sorrow through an Instagram post, describing him as a leader and a role model for his peers. In response to the loss of Baker, university officials have extended their condolences and announced the availability of counseling services for students and staff affected by this tragedy.

In light of Baker’s death, there has been public outcry regarding immigration policies. Congresswoman Nancy Mace released a statement emphasizing the urgent need to deport illegal immigrants from South Carolina, invoking Baker’s death as an unfortunate consequence of the current immigration situation. This incident has sparked discussions about the implications of illegal immigration and road safety in the state.

As of now, Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz remains in custody at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, where she is awaiting further legal proceedings. The university community continues to mourn the loss of Nathanial Baker, with both the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and the College Panhellenic Association offering their condolences and support to those affected by this devastating incident.