Loved ones remember ‘infectious joy’ of USC student killed in recent hit and run
Even at 21, Nathaniel Baker had already figured out so much about life.
He knew that acts of kindness fill your soul. He learned you can’t control the things around you, but you can control your attitude. He had even discovered that you can give your whole heart to someone, and still have room to love everyone else in your life.
Those memories of Baker were shared by his father, Dan Baker, at a memorial service for “Nate” on Saturday on the University of South Carolina’s campus.
Baker, who had just celebrated his birthday in March, was killed in a hit and run accident on April 2.
The USC junior, a student in the Darla Moore School of Business, was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by a pickup truck at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly streets, near the heart of the university’s campus.
Baker was from Glen Allen, Virginia, and graduated from Deep Run High School in 2022, where he played baseball, lacrosse and men’s volleyball. Local news reports shared a memorial created near the school’s baseball field, spelling out his name in a chain link fence, accompanied by balloons and flowers.
The high school described his lasting impact on the community, and said Baker was known for his infectious smile, positivity and the “light he brought to everyone around him.”
“He was the glue and spark that held and (led) his teammates,” the volleyball team wrote. “No one was allowed to get down around him, forever motivating all to keep working and pushing to be great.”
When he began at USC in the fall of 2022, he pledged the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, more popularly known as FIJI.
Baker was a highly involved member, well-liked and dedicated, serving as the fraternity’s tailgate chair and corresponding secretary, his fraternity said. In 2024, he was recognized as FIJI’s “Brother of the Year” for his dedication.
“We lost not just a brother, but a leader, a role model, and a true embodiment of what our fraternity stands for,” FIJI wrote on Instagram. “Nate will always be remembered for the way he showed up for others and the impact he had on everyone around him. … May we honor his memory by living with the same kindness, selflessness and generosity that he showed to everyone around him.”
USC students created a memorial for Baker on the corner of the intersection where he died. Dozens of bouquets of flowers. Photos. Beers, beads, candles. A Suzuki motorcycle manual. Letters and prayers.
Notes scrawled in chalk, declaring him “the brightest light” and the “best can man ever.”
“May you keep laughing & joking in paradise,” one message read.
A service was held at USC’s Rutledge Chapel on Saturday. He was described as an entrepreneur. A welder. A hunter. A mechanic.
“Today’s a special day. Special days can be hard,” said Leslie Baker, Nate’s mother.
Bella Desaulniers, Baker’s girlfriend and fellow USC student whom he had met at a Christmas party in 2023, spoke of his selflessness, his kindness, his thoughtfulness.
“I had the privilege of loving and being loved by Nate. There are simply no words to describe the impact that he had on me and so many others, but I’m going to try,” she said at the service.
She called him her “soulmate.”
“I’ve never seen someone so full of life,” Desaulniers said tearfully. “From now on we can look up to the sky and find comfort in our guardian angel Nate watching over us.”
USC’s Interfraternity Council, the governing body for member fraternities, memorialized Baker in an Instagram post, calling his death an “unimaginable loss.”
“Nate embodied everything it means to be a fraternity man — he was passionate, hardworking, kind, loving, and filled with an infectious joy that touched everyone around him,” the council wrote.“ Whether organizing events, mentoring younger brothers, or simply being a friend, Nate brought light, laughter, and love to every room he entered. His ability to make meaningful connections with anyone, seeing no one as a stranger, made him truly special.”
The Interfraternity Council announced the creation of a namesake scholarship, the “Nate Baker Outstanding Brother Scholarship,” to honor his legacy. It will be awarded each semester to a fraternity member who exemplifies Baker’s “exceptional character and values.”
“Nate’s impact on our chapter, our campus, and our lives will never be forgotten,” the council wrote. “Through this scholarship, we hope to ensure that Nate’s spirit, kindness, and dedication live on forever within our fraternity and the broader university community.”
The driver of the pickup truck that killed Baker was Rosali Fernandez Cruz, 24.
Fernandez Cruz failed to yield the right of way while turning left at Blossom and Assembly streets, according to police. He left the scene and did not stop.
An officer “captured (and) arrested” Fernandez Cruz, who was charged with hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to render aid and driving without a license, Columbia police said. Police said they later learned that he was wanted by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
His immigration status has drawn ire from some high profile Republican politicians. But Baker’s mom shared a note of grace during the memorial service.
“Mr. Cruz, my family and I know this was an accident, we are praying for you,” Leslie Baker said at the service.
This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
