Heavy prison sentences possible in brutal hit-and-run incident – ​​ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

A 29-YEAR-OLD Santa Ana man was arrested in a run-and-run accident on Sunday in Garden Grove and now faces possible long prison sentences (Shutterstock).

By Jim Tortolano/Orange County Tribune

The motorist who allegedly drove his car through a family parade on bicycles in Garden Grove last Sunday is facing four felony charges and as much as 11 years in prison – or more – was driving with a blood alcohol content almost three times the legal limit, according to authorities.

Ceferino Ramos, 29, of Santa Ana has been charged with:

• one felony count of driving under the influence of alcohol causing great bodily injury;
• one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury;
• one felony count of hit-and-run resulting in permanent injury or death, and
• one felony count of hit-and-run with injury.

There were also felony sentencing enhancements for causing brain injury and paralysis and for great bodily injury. The charges may be upgraded if the conditions of the injured party worsen.

Five people were injured – three of them seriously – in the incident on Haster Street. A pair of parents – Angel Ramirez and Angela Hernandez-Mejia were riding e-bikes and towing their three children in trailers on Haster near Twintree Lane.

They were riding on the right side of the road when Ramos’ vehicle drove into all of them and then sped away. A witness called police and followed the car until police caught up with the suspect driver and arrested him.

The father suffered a fractured skull and a brain bleed and remained in a coma. The 5-year-old son was in a coma and declared “brain dead” after several days. The 6-year-old daughter was in critical condition after surgery. The mother and their 7-month old child suffered minor injuries.

“They were just riding their bikes, enjoying a hot summer day, and now that little girl, her brother, and their dad are just hoping to make it to her next birthday,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “This is a tragedy that should never have happened, but it did because of the selfish decision by a stranger to get behind the wheel drunk.”