Funeral Today for Los Alamitos Veteran Killed in Motorcycle Crash

A funeral will be held today for a 30-year-old Army staff sergeant who served two deployments in Iraq but was killed in a freeway motorcycle accident in Fullerton.

Staff Sgt. Muhdin ``Mo'' Jemal, of the First Battalion, 140th Aviation Assault Helicopter Battalion based in Los Alamitos, was killed while riding his motorcycle south on the Orange (57) Freeway about 10 p.m. Thursday at Imperial Highway in Fullerton, according to the Orange County Coroner's Office.

``He's just one of the most positive guys I've ever met,'' said Command Sgt. Major Troy Eck, who said he served deployments in Iraq with Jemal from 2004-05 and 2010-11.

``He could really motivate soldiers into getting the job done.''Eck remembered Jemal as an inspirational leader and for ``his laughter, his smile.''

Jemal also ``loved to rib me,'' Eck said.``His soldiers loved him,'' added Eck.

``His good nature was infectious... His soldiers working with him or around him really enjoyed being with hi and would follow him anywhere.''

The funeral will be held at the Islamic Society of Orange County mosque in Garden Grove, according to Eck. A memorial service was planned for March 16 in Hangar 1 of the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, Eck said.

Gonzalo Gonzalez, 18, of Hacienda Heights, has been charged with a hit-and-run resulting in death, a felony, as well as driving without a valid driver's license, a misdemeanor, according to court records. Deputy District Attorney Alison Gyves, who has just been assigned the case, did not have all of the details of the fatal collision, but said investigators, were still trying to piece together exactly what happened.

Gonzalez could face enhanced charges, depending on the investigation, Gyves said. Jemal's Yamaha R6 may have collided with a big-rig truck that also left the scene, according to the initial report from the California Highway Patrol. Gonzalez, who was driving a Dodge Durango, is also accused of striking Jemal, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Curtis Martin said. Another vehicle also struck Jemal, but that driver, a woman from Arizona, stopped and was not cited, Martin said. Another car also hit the downed bike, but not Jemal, and two cars collided as they slowed while coming upon the crash scene, Martin said.

Gonzalez was tracked down at the Fullerton home of his girlfriend's father, to whom the sport utility vehicle was registered, after officers found the vehicle's license plate at the crash scene, Martin said. Gonzalez pleaded not guilty today and was ordered to return to court March 20 for a pretrial hearing, according to court records.

-City News Service