Fatal Richmond-San Rafael Bridge Crash Victim ID’d: Report

SAN RAFAEL, CA — The victim of the fatal Richmond-San Rafael Bridge crash last month has been identified as Michael de Guzman Baroja, a 31-year-old elementary school teacher, KTVU reports.

Baroja was killed in a Jan. 26 crash reported shortly after 7 p.m. that involved a sedan and a big rig.

The big rig caught fire and the driver was able to get out, but Baroja the driver of the sedan, was trapped in the vehicle and died, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Baroja taught at Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School in San Francisco’s Sunset District for six years, serving as a technology and after-school instructor, according to the report. Baroja lived in Berkeley, according to his Facebook page.

Baroja was planning to marry his longtime girlfriend and had a Hawaiian vacation scheduled for two days after his death, his sister, Kristine told the television station.

"It's so hard because he had everything ahead of him, everything,” she said. “Everything was lining up for him."

Baroja was described as a person who was passionate about his work and cared about others. His 32nd birthday would have been on Wednesday.

“Michael was a selfless man of faith,” his obituary reads.

“Even when he went on vacations, Michael always prioritized serving the Lord. He was a passionate and much-loved teacher His favorite foods were ramen, sushi, hot pot, KBBQ, fried chicken, and boba. He enjoyed building RC cars and Gundams, playing video games, watching anime, and keeping up with pop culture and tech. He collected Funko Pops, stickers, magnets, coffee cups, Hot Wheels, and many more. Music was an integral part of his life.

“Above all, Michael made time for his loved ones, friends, and students. He volunteered first and never hesitated to go the extra step and the extra mile for others.”