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Ware, Sr. -
Ware, Jr. -
Gaytan
Burnet High School is mourning the death of a student and his father, who were killed during a hit-and-run accident Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Leander.
According to the Leander Police Department, officers responded to a fatality accident at the intersection of US 183 and the 183A tollroad at about 12:20 a.m. Sept. 9. Upon arrival, officers found two males at the scene who were deceased and later identified as John Ware, 40, and his son, John Ware Jr., 17, both of Bertram.
Witnesses told police these individuals were traveling northbound on a single motorcycle on US 183 and were apparently on their way home from work when a two-door passenger car ran a red light while traveling southbound on 183A and collided with the motorcycle in the intersection.
After the collision, the male driver of the car entered a convenience store near the intersection before fleeing the scene into a nearby wooded area. Officers searched for the driver for several hours and finally located the suspect, identified as Allan Justin Gaytan, 21, of Hutto, and took him into custody. Gaytan was subsequently transported to the hospital for emergency medical care.
Upon his release from the hospital, Gaytan was charged with two counts of failure to stop and render air in an accident involving death, a second-degree felony.
He also has charges of assault causing bodily injury, interfering with an emergency call, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, unlawful restraint and has motions filed to revoke previous bonds for drug possession and evading arrest charges from an incident involving Williamson County Sheriff's deputies last November. He remains in the Williamson County Jail.
John Ware Sr. is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and two sons, Jessie and Kaleb. John Ware Jr. was also survived by his mother, Candice White, and sister, Anna White.
Memorial services for both father and son were set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at First United Methodist Church of Bertram, 115 E. North St.
Counselors were on hand at the school to provide emotional support for staff and students. John Ware Jr. was a senior at Burnet High School, while his father, John Ware Sr., was a BHS graduate.
