Pahoa resident Thomas G. Reimer was a thoughtful, supportive man who always could be counted on, family members and friends say.

    Big Island Motorcycle Accident Claims Father and Son

 

 

Relatives grieve for Thomas Reimer Sr. and son Thomas Jr., both killed in a motorcycle accident around Pahoa.

[ Watch ]

 

Thomas Dellinger had known Reimer for only a year, but when Dellinger was evicted from his Keaau home, Reimer came to his rescue.

“;He opened his home to me and my dog to stay for three weeks while I got things together to fly to Florida to stay with my brother,”; said Dellinger. “;I think that says a lot (about Reimer).”;

Reimer, 36, and his 7-year-old son, Thomas G. Reimer Jr., were heading home at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday on a black 2006 Suzuki motorcycle after visiting a family member who lives in Hawaii Paradise Park. They were riding south on Route 130 when a 1999 Mazda driven by a 21-year-old man in the opposite direction struck them as the driver made a left turn onto Ainaloa Boulevard. Police said Reimer had the right of way.

Reimer and his son were thrown upon impact. They were taken to Hilo Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead at 11:33 p.m. Both father and son were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

Police said the 21-year-old Mazda driver, also from Pahoa, was arrested on two counts of negligent homicide and third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug. He was released yesterday morning pending further investigation.

Autopsies are expected to be performed on the father and son to determine the exact cause of death.

Family members and friends were grief-stricken yesterday.

“;It's a great loss for me, losing my son and my grandson,”; said Reimer's mother yesterday morning.

Reimer, a carpenter by trade, is also survived by his wife, daughter and sister.

According to his MySpace page, he was attending Hawaii Community College as a student in the Electrical Installation and Maintenance Technology program.

For the past three years, Reimer was a member of the Kilauea Masonic Lodge.

“;He was a really nice, fun-loving guy,”; said member Lyle Phillips, “;just an all-around good guy. He would come and help out whenever he could.”;

By phone from Oregon, stepbrother Gordon Dolby said Reimer was always there for family and friends.

“;He's the one always standing beside you.”;

The fatalities were the 10th and 11th on the Big Island this year, compared with 11 at the same time in 2008.