Person of Interest Sought in Fatal Modjeska Canyon Motorcycle Hit-and-Run

MISSION VIEJO, CA — An identified person of interest is sought in the case of a Santiago and Modjeska Canyon fatal motorcycle hit-and-run. Officials are seeking the driver of a stolen vehicle that caused a fatal motorcycle accident on the afternoon of Aug. 1 in Modjeska Canyon and Santiago Road. The vehicle was discovered in a ditch, the driver nowhere to be found.

After a week of circulating a video of a man circling a car in a Santa Ana Tow Yard, the Orange County Sheriff's Department has identified Damon Ellery Block, a 41-year-old man, as the current person of interest in the case.

READ: OCSD Seeks Answers in Fatal Modjeska Canyon Hit-and-Run Motorcycle Accident

Block currently has a $25,000 felony warrant out for his arrest due to a prior and unrelated auto theft case, according to release. He is known to frequent Santa Ana, Irvine, Lake Forest and Trabuco Canyon, according to the OCSD.

"The OCSD Major Accident Reconstruction Team identified Block as a person believed to have critical information about this most recent hit and run case," the release stated. "Block is being asked to contact the OCSD to assist in the investigation."

The daughter of Joanne Ketter and victim--Drew Ketter, a 55-year-old Midway City resident--released photos of her parents in a press conference today. Drew's wife, Joanne, was also severely injured in the crash that killed her husband.

At just after 2 p.m. on Aug. 1, emergency responders transported Ketter and his wife to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, in Mission Viejo, where he was pronounced dead. She remained in Intensive Care with critical injuries from the hit-and-run crash. The driver of the sedan that was involved in the collision was never found, according to police reports.

"(Drew Ketter) died, and the (Joanne Ketter), riding on the same motorcycle was severely injured in the crash," Orange County Sheriff's Department Information Officer Lt. Mark Stichter said. "It was immediately discovered that the vehicle was stolen from a Santa Ana tow yard."

Investigators have been searching for a person of interest through social media channels for tips on finding the man seen casing the stolen vehicle in the tow yard.

More information will be added to this report as it is released. Please refresh this page for further information.

Mojeska Canyon Motorcycle fatality, Orange County Fire Authority, Captain Larry Kurtz Photo