Funeral services set for Kettering, OH teen killed by drunk driver

Updated: Monday, 12 Aug 2013, 8:35 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 12 Aug 2013, 3:52 PM EDT

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) – Funeral arrangements have been finalized for a Kettering teen who was tragically killed while on a family fishing trip in Pennsylvania.

Austin Rife, 15, died over the weekend after police said a drunk driver ran off the road and fatally struck him.

Austin is being hailed a hero by many.  According to his mother, a group was fishing about 80 yards from the road when the vehicle came speeding towards them.  Austin pushed a 6-year-old boy, who his mother said is a family friend, out of the vehicle’s path.  Austin was then struck and killed.  Austin’s mother said she was also hit by the vehicle.  She was treated by an area hospital and has since been released.

Austin was just days away from starting his junior year at Kettering Fairmont High School.

“He was a good kid,” said Dan Vonhandorf, who is the school’s principal.  “Austin was very excited to start a culinary program at the career tech center. He would have spent half of his day here at Fairmont and the other half at Centerville High School.”

Students will observe a moment of silence for Austin on the first day of school.  Members of his homeroom or advisory class also plan to write letters to his family.

Visitation will be from 4- 8 pm on Wednesday, August 14 at Kettering Church, 1450 East Dorothy Lane.  The funeral service will be held at the same location at 11 am on Thursday, August 15.  Rife will be buried at Miami Valley Memory Gardens.

Donations can be made to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  MADD is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. Envelopes will be available during services at Kettering Church. Donations can also be made online at www.madd.org

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Categories: US News