Home > News
Arrest made in Reams hit-and-run case
Police say the driver was visiting Eugene that weekend
by Trevor Davis | News Reporter
Police arrested a Coos Bay man Monday afternoon on charges relating to the death of University student Brian Reams.
A vehicle struck and killed Reams when he was trying to cross Hilyard Street more than three months ago.
Eugene police arrested 23-year-old Aaron Vernon Heyer on felony charges of failure to perform duties of a driver to an injured person.
A Cadillac sedan struck Reams, a 22-year-old originally from Pocatello, Idaho, when he tried walking across Hilyard Street at 15th Avenue March 4. The driver didn't stop, and Reams was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he later died.
Officers involved in the Eugene Police Department's Forensic Investigation Reconstruction Survey Team have been investigating the case since March.
Heyer and his friends from Coos Bay were visiting Eugene that weekend, according to police.
Eugene Police Department spokeswoman Kerry Delf said she could release few details because the case would likely be handed over to the district attorney's office.
She did say officers arrested Heyer based on probable cause through physical evidence and witness interviews. Officers talked to witnesses who were at the scene and those who knew Heyer.
On Monday, Heyer met with Eugene Police Department Officer Ben Hall, who has been heading the case, and Heyer was arrested.
Marty Hermens, president of Reams' fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, said he was happy to hear the news.
"It had been a little while, but we never lost hope," Hermens said Tuesday. "We knew the police and district attorney were doing their jobs. Sometimes it just takes time."
Hermens said those close to Reams were not focusing on the criminal aspect of the case.
"Our main concern was not getting closure from finding this guy, but it was being tighter and trying to be a family," Hermens said.
The suspect's father, Alan Heyer, would not comment on his son's arrest.
"The truth will come out," he said.
Heyer is lodged at the Lane County Jail.
According to Heyer's MySpace page, he attended Marshfield High School in Coos Bay until 2002.
Contact the crime, health and safety reporter at tdavis@dailyemerald.com
A vehicle struck and killed Reams when he was trying to cross Hilyard Street more than three months ago.
Eugene police arrested 23-year-old Aaron Vernon Heyer on felony charges of failure to perform duties of a driver to an injured person.
A Cadillac sedan struck Reams, a 22-year-old originally from Pocatello, Idaho, when he tried walking across Hilyard Street at 15th Avenue March 4. The driver didn't stop, and Reams was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he later died.
Officers involved in the Eugene Police Department's Forensic Investigation Reconstruction Survey Team have been investigating the case since March.
Heyer and his friends from Coos Bay were visiting Eugene that weekend, according to police.
Eugene Police Department spokeswoman Kerry Delf said she could release few details because the case would likely be handed over to the district attorney's office.
She did say officers arrested Heyer based on probable cause through physical evidence and witness interviews. Officers talked to witnesses who were at the scene and those who knew Heyer.
On Monday, Heyer met with Eugene Police Department Officer Ben Hall, who has been heading the case, and Heyer was arrested.
Marty Hermens, president of Reams' fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, said he was happy to hear the news.
"It had been a little while, but we never lost hope," Hermens said Tuesday. "We knew the police and district attorney were doing their jobs. Sometimes it just takes time."
Hermens said those close to Reams were not focusing on the criminal aspect of the case.
"Our main concern was not getting closure from finding this guy, but it was being tighter and trying to be a family," Hermens said.
The suspect's father, Alan Heyer, would not comment on his son's arrest.
"The truth will come out," he said.
Heyer is lodged at the Lane County Jail.
According to Heyer's MySpace page, he attended Marshfield High School in Coos Bay until 2002.
Contact the crime, health and safety reporter at tdavis@dailyemerald.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 20
anonymous
posted 6/12/07 @ 8:12 PM PST
we must remember that there was a crime here. but the crime was not killing someone. any car driving down that road would have hit that kid. this was an accident. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 6/12/07 @ 8:14 PM PST
we must remember that there was a crime here. but the crime was not killing someone. any car driving down that road would have hit that kid. this was an accident. (Continued…)
Deb Frisch
posted 6/13/07 @ 6:45 AM PST
Has any researcher ever looked at whether the number of automobile accidents, injuries and deaths was greater in Eugene, Ann Arbor and other college towns when there was a home football or basketball game (and thus, an excuse for middle-aged white males with no lives to sit around get drunk while watching black males do things on tv?)
I know that the Frohnmeyers are deeply concerned about people whose die young. (Continued…)
Largenfirm
posted 6/13/07 @ 3:41 PM PST
Deb,
still working on getting traffic to your pathetic site, eh?
Drunk driving has nothing to do with race, sex, age, or sports interests, and you know it, Deb. (Continued…)
Mike Hill
posted 6/14/07 @ 8:15 PM PST
Please people we must not let our emotions get in the way of the facts in this case. This case has nothing to do with drunk driving or speeding, if it did this wouldnt be a failure to meet the standards of a driver charge it would be a manslaughter or assault charge. (Continued…)
Deb Frisch
posted 6/15/07 @ 12:29 PM PST
My bad, Mike! This is a story about how drunk pedestrianing can be as dangerous as drunk driving! Lemme guess..the dead duck got loaded at Taylor's, a bar owned by Eugene Police Commission member (up)chuck hare. (Continued…)
anonymous
posted 6/17/07 @ 4:26 PM PST
This was an accident plain and simple and both parties involved were acting carelessly and irresponsibly. Reams was drunk and stepped into traffic and the driver was going twice the speed limit in an area of high pedestrian traffic no matter what time of day. (Continued…)
UO Student
posted 6/19/07 @ 7:20 PM PST
I live right off of Hillyard. The speed limit is 25mph. I walk everywhere I go, and believe it or not most of the people that drive down the street, no matter the time of day, are speeding by at least 10mph. (Continued…)
Deborah Frisch
posted 6/21/07 @ 8:31 AM PST
I live right off of Hillyard. The speed limit is 25mph. I walk everywhere I go, and believe it or not most of the people that drive down the street, no matter the time of day, are speeding by at least 10mph. (Continued…)
largenfirm
posted 6/24/07 @ 7:12 AM PST
Good old Deb - always looking to blame the cops!
Green Can Man will be hauling you off to the piss-scented gaol soon enough, Deb-vile!
Kirk
Post a Comment