Former Tates Creek runner seriously injured in hit-and-run that killed college teammate
Former Tates Creek High School distance runner Alex Mortimer suffered severe injuries and one of his Milligan University teammates was killed after a car hit three members of the Tennessee college’s cross country/track and field team Thursday evening as they prepared for a meet in Williamsburg, Va.
Eli Cramer, 20, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., died from his injuries while Mortimer, 21, of Lexington, was reported in stable condition following surgery to repair multiple fractures, according to a news release from Milligan University, a small, private school in Elizabethton, Tenn.
Late Thursday night, Milligan University posted a video on its Facebook page from Mortimer from his hospital bed after surgery.
“I was just informed that the worst of my injuries is my broken leg and a dislocated shoulder,” Mortimer said. “I want to thank all of you all for praying for me and for the Milligan team and for the university.”
Lee Harrison, a university spokeswoman, said in a press conference Friday morning that Mortimer was undergoing another surgery at that time for a possible bone chip. In addition to a broken fibula, hip and shoulder injuries, Harrison said Mortimer suffered bruised lungs and a possible concussion but he had no serious brain injuries.
Another runner, Eli Baldy, 21, of Knoxville, Tenn., was treated at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and released.
The team was set to compete Friday in the 56th annual Colonial Relays hosted by the College of William & Mary. Four team members and an assistant coach went for a practice run after arriving for the event Thursday afternoon.
According to Virginia State Police, a “red-colored two-door sedan” struck three members of the group on Williamsburg Pottery Road about 6 p.m. and fled the scene, 13newsnow.com reported. A suspect was later apprehended after the vehicle crashed into a median, the report said.
Police charged Jose Efrain Hernandez Mancia, 26, with several drunk driving related charges, including DUI involuntary manslaughter, according to reports.
Mortimer is a graduate student in the school’s Master of Business Administration program, according to the school. He previously competed for the University of Kentucky after graduating from Tates Creek High School.
At Tates Creek, Mortimer was a state runner-up in the 3,200 meters in 2016 and 2017 as a junior and senior and had competed at the varsity level since eighth grade.
“I can genuinely say that Alex was one of the hardest working athletes I have ever known,” wrote former Tates Creek coach Chris Hawboldt, in a story for ky.milesplit.com. “His dedication to his craft was undeniable and made him into the national champion level runner he became when he graduated and attended Milligan University.”
Mortimer lives in Johnson City, Tenn., with his wife, Hannah Gray Mortimer, according to information posted on their Facebook pages.
Cramer, a sophomore business administration major, was a two-time All-America cross country runner and helped Milligan earn its first NAIA cross country national title last year.
“He made an unmistakable impact on our program and the team culture in the two years he’s been with us,” Milligan Athletic Director Christian Pope said. “It’s no coincidence that Milligan’s first-ever NAIA national championship this last fall came as a result of Eli being a strong contributor … He will be sorely missed.”
