Milligan Mourns the Loss of a Student-Athlete Involved in Hit-and-Run

MILLIGAN, Tenn.  — Three members of Milligan University's men's track and field team were involved in an accident Thursday evening, Mar. 31, while running in Williamsburg, Va., where they were scheduled to compete this weekend in the 56th Annual Colonial Relays at William & Mary.

Sophomore Eli Cramer (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) succumbed to his injuries. Seniors Alex Mortimer (Lexington, Ky.) and Eli Baldy (Knoxville, Tenn.) also were injured. Mortimer sustained life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery Thursday night for multiple fractures. He is in stable condition. Baldy was treated and released.

One additional member of the team and a coach also were on the scene but were uninjured.

According to Virginia State Police, Cramer, Mortimer, and Baldy were running on Williamsburg Pottery Road when they were struck by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene of the crash and was located shortly afterward when he crashed into a median. He was taken into custody, and according to police, was charged with DUI maiming and felony hit-and-run. The investigation is ongoing. 

Cramer, age 20, was a sophomore business administration major at Milligan. In his two years with the Buffaloes, he already had accomplished much. In addition to being the third finisher on the 2021 national championship cross country team, he was a two-time All-American and two-time All-AAC for cross country. He also set a program record in the 8k.

In track and field, Cramer was a four-time national qualifier, most recently finishing 10th in the 5k at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.

Mortimer, age 23, transferred to Milligan in 2018 from the University of Kentucky. He graduated last May with an undergraduate degree in ministry and currently is enrolled in Milligan's MBA program.

A four-time All-AAC cross country runner, Mortimer collected NAIA All-America status in the marathon with a fourth-place finish at the NAIA national championships last spring. He recently captured the St. Patrick's Music City Half Marathon title two weekends ago to qualify for this year's national championships.  

Baldy, age 21, a senior mechanical engineering major, is a two-time national qualifier in outdoor nationals in the marathon and a member of four conference championship teams.

For more information and updates, visit milligan.edu/breakingnews.

(Story and photo provided by Milligan Sports Information)