Friend Begs God for 5 More Minutes With Slain Bicyclist

The mother of a Fountain Valley man killed in May while riding his bicycle spoke today at the pre-trial hearing of the Huntington Beach man charged in his death.

"The loss of my son has caused great suffering to me," said Dung Do, mother of Hung Khac Do, the man killed in the accident. "Every time I call his name now, he's not around, and that makes me suffer more."

Adam Carl Garrett, 19, is charged with felony hit-and-run death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in connection with Hung Do's death. Garrett is accused of crashing into the back Hung Do's bicycle and throwing Do from the bike. Do landed in the far right lane of Warner Avenue, and was eventually taken to the hospital, where he died shortly thereafter.

Garrett is also accused of fleeing the scene without assisting Do or contacting police and paramedics, as well as later placing a call to 911 and falsely identiyfing himself as a witness to the accident.

Do, who raised her son alone after the death of her husband, spoke with the assistance of a Vietnamese interpreter, describing her son as obedient and kind as she addressed Superior Court Judge John Adams.

"It was only me and me son living together," Do said. "Now that he's gone, I cannot depend on anyone spiritually."

Garrett held back tears as Dung Do and other members of Hung Do's family addressed the court. Scott Patterson, who described Do as a "dear friend," gave an emotional plea to the court for justice in the case.

"I wish God would let me have five more minutes with Hung so I could tell him what a great guy he is," Patterson said. "I can believe my friend was left to die in the street like a dog. Until the person responsible is tried, convicted and punished, I will never get over what happened."

Garrett is free on $50,000 bond. The pre-trial proceedings will continue Dec. 5.