Son of victims asks driver in OC fatal hit-run to come forward

Friday, August 5, 2016

Johnathan Ketter's father was killed and his mother seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Orange County and he is pleading with the driver to turn himself in.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- Drew Ketter spent the last day of his life doing something he loved - riding his motorcycle. His wife Joanne joined him Monday afternoon for lunch and they took the scenic route home, traveling along windy roads near Modjeska Canyon in Orange County.

Ketter was killed and his wife critically injured when they were struck head-on by a driver in a stolen Honda who then ditched the vehicle and fled the scene, authorities said.

Now the couple's son says he hopes the driver will have some compassion and come forward.

"To leave my mom the way she is - I mean she'll be better but to leave my dad killed, that just tears me up," Johnathan Ketter said. "There's not very many people that could do something like that."

Police say the Honda was stolen from a Santa Ana tow yard about three hours before the crash. They released surveillance footage of a man described as a "person of interest" in the crash who is seen checking out the Honda and then taking it off the lot.

Ketter said his mother is expected to soon be moved out of the intensive care unit, but she has a long road of recovery ahead of her.

"I might have to life the rest of my life without my dad, but he has to live the rest of his life knowing what he did," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Ana police or OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIPOCCS.