The University of South Carolina (USC) confirmed Thursday morning that one of their students died in a crash Wednesday afternoon.
USC said the student was 21-year-old Nathanial “Nate” Baker, a junior business major.
A photo of Baker at a memorial on the street.(WIS News 10)
The crash happened at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly streets.
The Columbia Police Department (CPD) said Baker, who was driving a motorcycle, was hit by a pickup truck. Baker was taken to Prisma Health Richland by EMS, where he later died from his injuries.
The pickup truck’s driver, whom CPD identified as 24-year-old Rosali Fernandez Cruz, left the scene after the crash, but police said they were able to find and arrest him. Fernandez Cruz was charged with hit and run resulting in death, failure to render aid, failure to yield the right of way and driving without a license.
CPD noted Fernandez Cruz was wanted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and said they are in communication with ICE regarding his arrest.
A mugshot of Rosali Fernandez Cruz.
(Columbia Police Department)
Police said Cruz had two passengers in the car with him at the time of the crash, but no charges are pending against them.
Baker was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. The fraternity president told WIS News 10 Baker was awarded Brother of the Year in the fall and served as the fraternity’s Tailgate Chair and Corresponding Secretary.
“People in our chapter regarded him as the best human being and someone you wanted as a friend,” the fraternity president said. “He knew how to fix anything and make people smile.”
The university noted that counseling staff are available to their community members.
Fernandez-Cruz appeared in a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, where his bond was denied. Baker’s family attended the bond hearing.
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USC said the student was 21-year-old Nathanial “Nate” Baker, a junior business major.
A photo of Baker at a memorial on the street.(WIS News 10)
The crash happened at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly streets.
The Columbia Police Department (CPD) said Baker, who was driving a motorcycle, was hit by a pickup truck. Baker was taken to Prisma Health Richland by EMS, where he later died from his injuries.
The pickup truck’s driver, whom CPD identified as 24-year-old Rosali Fernandez Cruz, left the scene after the crash, but police said they were able to find and arrest him. Fernandez Cruz was charged with hit and run resulting in death, failure to render aid, failure to yield the right of way and driving without a license.
CPD noted Fernandez Cruz was wanted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and said they are in communication with ICE regarding his arrest.
A mugshot of Rosali Fernandez Cruz.
(Columbia Police Department)
Police said Cruz had two passengers in the car with him at the time of the crash, but no charges are pending against them.
Baker was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. The fraternity president told WIS News 10 Baker was awarded Brother of the Year in the fall and served as the fraternity’s Tailgate Chair and Corresponding Secretary.
“People in our chapter regarded him as the best human being and someone you wanted as a friend,” the fraternity president said. “He knew how to fix anything and make people smile.”
The university noted that counseling staff are available to their community members.
Fernandez-Cruz appeared in a bond hearing Thursday afternoon, where his bond was denied. Baker’s family attended the bond hearing.
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