An instrumental entrepreneur and CEO who’s credited with spearheading much of Austin’s tech boom has reportedly been killed in a plane crash in Laredo late Tuesday, June 16,
The Laredo Police Department confirmed in a press conference on Wednesday, June 17, that one person was killed due to the crash, and a second patient — traveling in a car that was struck by the plane — was hospitalized and is in stable condition.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on social media Wednesday it would be investigating Tuesday’s crash, with Laredo Police separately confirming all investigations involving plane crashes fall under the jurisdiction of the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration.
State Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) eulogized Baer in a social media post, referring to him as “one of the most significant leaders driving innovation and entrepreneurship” in the United States.
“In Texas, he made our state a global leader,” Cruz wrote. “His impact was incalculable.”
MySA reached out to Capital Factory Wednesday afternoon for confirmation and a statement on Baer’s reported death. We also reached out to the Laredo Police Department. We will update this story if we receive a response.