Nathanial G Baker Obituary, Death; The Columbia Police Department apprehended an individual following a hit-and-run incident that led to the death of a University of South Carolina student.
On Wednesday at approximately 2 p.m., a motorcyclist was traveling west on Blossom Street when he was struck by a truck at the intersection with Assembly Street. According to the Columbia Police Department (CPD), the driver of the pickup fled the scene after the accident.
The injured motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A nearby officer managed to locate and arrest the driver in the 1100 block of Greene Street. The driver, identified as 24-year-old Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, faces charges of hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to provide assistance, and driving without a valid license.
Authorities reported that two male passengers were present with Fernandez-Cruz during the incident and also fled the scene. No charges are currently pending against them.
Upon checking the suspect’s name in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, CPD officers discovered that Fernandez-Cruz was wanted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The CPD has been in contact with ICE regarding his arrest.
On Thursday, a judge denied bond for Fernandez-Cruz, who remains in custody at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The Richland County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old Nathanial G. Baker from Virginia, and the University of South Carolina has confirmed that he was a student.
U.S. Representative Nancy Mace expressed her outrage on social media, stating, “Another life stolen by an illegal alien who shouldn’t have been here. South Carolina’s kids are our everything—I’ll be damned if I let another parent bury their child because of an illegal alien.”
Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, also shared her condolences on social media regarding this tragic event.
