Tragic Hit-and-Run Claims Life of USC Student

South Carolina – Nathanial “Nate” G. Baker, a junior at the University of South Carolina, has tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident near the campus. The collision occurred on a Wednesday afternoon, claiming the life of the 21-year-old business major from Glen Allen, Virginia. The driver involved in the incident is Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Following the incident, Fernandez-Cruz has been charged with several offenses, including hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to give information and render aid, failure to yield the right of way, and driving without a license. The collision took place around 2 p.m. when Fernandez-Cruz reportedly failed to yield while making a left turn at Blossom and Assembly streets, striking Baker on his motorcycle.

Emergency responders rushed Baker to the hospital, where he was sadly pronounced dead, as confirmed by the Richland County Coroner’s Office. After the crash, Fernandez-Cruz fled the scene on foot but was apprehended shortly thereafter by police on the 1100 block of Greene Street. At the time of this incident, Fernandez-Cruz was already wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A source from DHS reported that Fernandez-Cruz had previously been arrested by Border Patrol in Hidalgo, Texas, on December 24, 2016. An immigration judge had ordered her to return to El Salvador on September 6, 2018, but she remained in the United States illegally. Two additional men were reportedly present with Fernandez-Cruz at the time of the collision but escaped the scene, and their immigration status remains unknown.

In response to this tragedy, the University of South Carolina announced counseling services available to students affected by Baker’s passing. The fraternity to which Baker belonged, FIJI, honored him through an Instagram tribute, describing him as a brother, leader, and role model.

This incident has sparked public and political responses. Congresswoman Nancy Mace has condemned the event and expressed her intention to advocate for the deportation of illegal immigrants from South Carolina, emphasizing the challenges posed by illegal immigration in the state.

Currently, Fernandez-Cruz is being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia pending further legal proceedings. As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a bright young individual whose life was cut short due to a tragic incident.