Police looking for driver who hit and killed teen cyclist
Georgetown Police are looking for the driver who hit and killed 19-year-old Thomas “Tommy” Ketterhagen.
Police say Ketterhagen was cycling near his Georgetown home when he was struck early Monday evening. His family reported him missing late Monday evening after searching the area.
His mother, Luz Ketterhagen, found the body in the 1300 block of Patriot Way. The stretch of road is not far from the family’s Georgetown home.
Ketterhagen’s brother John tells Fox 7 there are 10 children in the Ketterhagen family. He says the ages range from 26 to 1. 16-year-old John says he and Tommy were both middle children and that the two would share a room when Tommy was in town. “We are competitive with each other because we are closest in age,” he says.
John also notes that Tommy was an avid cyclist. John, also an avid cyclist was planning to go out for a ride on Monday night. “I came home to ride and I found out Tommy went out a little earlier,” he says, adding, “I was about twenty minutes into my ride and had my head down, and kind of glanced up and saw him ride by, I didn't see his face.” John says that was around 5 p.m.
John says he went to a meeting and when he came home later that evening, Tommy still had not returned. The family reported him missing around 10 o’clock, then looked for him through the night. “We came home and rested and my mom and dad woke up early to go out,” says John.
Early Tuesday morning John’s parents, Thomas and Luz, went out again to look. They were in the 2300 block of Patriot Way. “My mom found him,” says John, adding, “They were searching the road. We actually drove that route last night. We didn’t think much of it. We were driving on the opposite side of the road and didn’t see him.”
Georgetown Police say they don’t have much information, only that they believe the driver was behind the wheel of a blue car.
“I just don’t understand, it doesn’t make any sense. I don’t care who hit him, I just want him back,” John says fighting back tears.
He describes his brother as a “great athlete, hard worker, and naturally gifted.” He also says his brother was “deeply religious, conquering, never let anything get in his way.”
Tommy graduated from East View High in 2015. He was a member of the East View High Soccer Team. John is a member of the team too. Tuesday afternoon, East View High School Principal Dave Denny issued the following statement:
“Tommy was always super enthusiastic, full of energy and life. I remember at the state semi-final soccer game, he scored the first goal. He was especially enthusiastic that day and was so excited about scoring that he pulled his jersey over his head. The referee penalized him with a yellow card for excessive celebrations. We were all laughing and yelling at him from the sidelines, ‘You can’t go getting yellow-carded…we need you!’ The EVHS soccer team went on to the State Championship game that year. Tommy loved everyone and always loved being in involved. He was the life of the party. He is already deeply missed.”
An East View High School student’s parent tells Fox 7 the East View High School soccer team released balloons and had a prayer service for Tommy on Tuesday night, before practice. The parent says they are hoping to honor Tommy again in the coming days.
Georgetown Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call Detective Kirby Shoemake at 512.930.8491 or send an email, kirby.shoemake@georgetown.org.