An arrest was made today in the hit‑and‑run death of former Covelo Fire Chief Bill Baker, bringing a sad close to the story of a longtime volunteer and widely loved member of the community.
Baker had been discharged from a hospital but was unable to find a ride home. A transport service hired by the hospital drove him toward Covelo. He got out of the vehicle shortly before reaching his house and was struck and killed by a driver who fled the scene.
A 21‑year‑old woman was arrested today in connection with the collision, according to the jail booking log. The case had been under investigation for months.
Throughout that period, our newsroom sought basic information about the circumstances of Baker’s final hours — including the identity of the transport driver, the company involved, and the California Highway Patrol’s report. Public records requests and calls to multiple agencies, including the CHP, were unsuccessful. We eventually reached a point where the lack of transparency raised more questions than answers.
In the months after his death, the community rallied around Baker’s memory. He lived alone but had been a friend to many, and people stepped forward to honor him.
The case is also a reminder of how easily connections can fray in a busy world. One person told me I was an outsider in Covelo; another asked me to look into what happened because Baker had spent his life serving the community. A man who gave so much deserved someone to keep asking questions. We don’t regret doing that work, and his story underscores the importance of spending time with the people we care about while they’re still here.
“Here is the story as we reported it when the incident occurred.”
