‘Heartless’ driver fatally hits college student and takes off, Massachusetts family says
A Massachusetts driver is accused of fatally striking a college student with a stolen vehicle and taking off, police said.
Christopher Baker, 36, faces several charges in connection to the January crash, including motor vehicle homicide, manslaughter, two counts of assault and battery, leaving the scene and more, the Boston Police Department said in a Feb. 13 news release. He was arrested Feb. 12 after officers found the vehicle at a Whole Foods Market about 2 miles away, WBZ-TV reported.
According to police, two pedestrians — 20-year-old Taylor Wilkinson and her 23-year-old sister, whom local news reports identified as Carlee Wilkinson — were hit by the vehicle at about 8:30 p.m. Jan. 18 in Boston.
When responding officers arrived, the driver had fled, police said. The Wilkinson sisters were taken to a hospital for their injuries, where Taylor died.
Prosecutors said a witness saw the driver confront the sisters stating “You stupid (expletive), why did you cross the street?” before driving away, WBZ-TV reported.
“How can anybody be that heartless?” Carlee Wilkinson told WCVB in an interview. “It just leaves me to question the humanity in this person.”
On Feb. 13, Baker was arraigned in court anonymously, only present behind a privacy door in the courtroom, which upset some of the Wilkinson family members, including Carlee, WCVB reported.
”Why not face up and show your face? Let the family know you’re sorry,” Carlee Wilkinson told the station.
Baker pleaded not guilty and was held on a $150,000 cash bail, WCVB reported.
‘An unimaginable loss’
Taylor Wilkinson was described as a “beautiful soul whose kindness, compassion and spirit will forever be remembered,” according to an obituary.
Wilkinson is remembered as a dedicated student at Fisher College, loved ones said.
“This is an unimaginable loss for our community, and our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her,” the college said in a Jan. 21 statement.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 2:30 PM with the headline "‘Heartless’ driver fatally hits college student and takes off, Massachusetts family says."
