Leominster man dies in one-car accident

LEOMINSTER -- A single-vehicle accident just before 1 a.m. Sunday claimed the life of a 24-year-old Leominster man.

Charles Ketter was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident on Merriam Avenue after his 2004 Ford Explorer hit a tree, according to Timothy Connolly, spokesman for District Attorney Joseph D. Early's office.

"The accident was reported at 12:53 a.m. and Mr. Ketter was found unresponsive at the scene," Connolly said. "MedStar paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene."

Ketter, listed as last living at 33 Lancaster St. Apt. 2, was the lone person in the Explorer at the time of the crash, which occurred near the intersection of Merriam Avenue and Hale Street. The vehicle was heading toward the center of Leominster, Connolly said.

"The vehicle left the road and hit a tree. There was extensive damage to the vehicle," Connolly noted.

The spokesman said the reason for the crash had yet to be determined, but the incident was under investigation by the Worcester County District Attorney's Office and the Leominster police.

An impromptu memorial was set up under the tree Ketter hit. Cards, candles and messages to the aspiring rapper were displayed. Under the performing name "Chizzy B.," Ketter was a rising star and well established in the local music scene, according to friends.

"He was starting to take off," said 26-year-old Joe Mair, a friend and fellow rapper. "He was a great artist and a fun kid. This doesn't seem

real. This is a bad dream."

Friends shared memories of Ketter -- a 2005 Leominster High School graduate -- saying he was liked by everyone, regardless of age, sex or race.

"He was very outgoing. He was loved by a lot of people," longtime friend Matt Gravel, 23, said. "He was a very giving person and I know a lot of people are going to miss him. I don't know what the story is, but he was far too young to have this happen."