COURTESY PHOTO
Leslie C. Souza Sr., shown here with his wife, Jacquelyn, died Sunday after he fell while riding his dirt bike at Kahuku Motocross Track.
|
|
Family time, camaraderie drew victim to motocross
Leslie C. Souza Sr. rode dirt bikes to spend time with his son.
"We were going every weekend. We made a point to spend time together. He was my best friend," said Leslie C. Souza Jr.
Souza, a first sergeant and inspector in the Hawaii Army National Guard, died at Kahuku Hospital on Sunday after he fell while riding at a spot called "playground" at Kahuku Motocross Track. Souza, a Kapahulu resident, was 52.
The Department of the Medical Examiner said Souza died from multiple traumatic injuries due to the crash.
Leslie Souza Jr., 27, said he was riding about 50 yards away from his father when he saw him lose control of his 2006 Kawasaki KX 250. His father missed a turn when he fell, Souza's son said. A park marshal had said Souza's chest struck a boulder when he fell.
Souza said he rushed to his father's side. Before the ambulance arrived, a woman helped keep his father still and to check his vitals.
Leslie Souza Jr. said his father was wearing protective gear, but not a chest protector. He had talked about getting one but said he never operated his motorcycle at a high speed. "He was a cruiser," his son said.
Souza, a longtime rider of Harley-Davidsons, took up dirt biking about a year ago to spend time with his son, who has been involved in the sport for the past two years.
He loved the track's scenery and camaraderie, his son said. "It took him away from the stressors at work. ... I could see it. He always had a smile on his face," he said.
He described his father as an overly cautious rider who never attempted to do stunts on his motorcycle. "He basically just putts around on the bike," he said. "He would say, 'Slow down, be careful, take it easy.' "
Souza's son, who held his father in his arms before paramedics arrived, continues to question what could have happened. "Even our close friends (at the track), we all can't figure out why and how it happened because of how cautious of a rider he was," he added.
He checked his father's motorcycle but found no malfunctions.
Souza's son said his father will be best remembered for being helpful. He touched many lives, he said. "We all loved him very much."
Souza is also survived by his wife, Jacquelyn; daughter Hollie; and parents Richard and Pearl. Services are pending.