Eugene police are releasing few details about their findings in last week’s hit-and-run in which a University student died, but said they are still investigating the incident.
Brian Reams, a 22-year-old University student from Pocatello, Idaho, was struck by a vehicle early in the morning of March 4 and died the next day at Sacred Heart Medical Center. More than 600 family members and friends remembered Reams at a memorial service last week held at McArthur Court. Students have created Facebook groups to honor Reams, and one has almost 1,000 members.
Eugene police have gathered evidence and interviewed witnesses, spokeswoman Melinda Kletzok said. She wouldn’t say whether the police have any leads because the case is ongoing.
“Good investigations take time,” she said. “It’s very important to get good information and work through the investigation process in a thorough and thoughtful way. We understand the emotion and difficulty surrounding this.”
Eugene police’s Forensic Investigation Reconstruction Survey Team, made up of officers and a sergeant trained to investigate motor vehicle collisions, is investigating the case. The team members have full-time assignments in Eugene’s patrol and investigation units but are on-call to respond to major vehicle collisions.
“Eugene police responded to the scene quickly and we were able to bring in the FIRST team,” Kletzok said.
FIRST tries to reconstruct collisions with evidence found at the scene, including marks left on the roadway by the vehicles involved. FIRST attempts to determine how vehicles moved before, during and after the collision and the speed of the vehicle.
Evidence may be used later in a criminal trial and is handed to the district attorney, Kletzok said. The district attorney will decide whether criminal charges will be pressed. There is no timeline on when Eugene Police Department’s findings will be given to the district attorney.
The EPD police report on the hit-and-run is classified and isn’t available to the public because the case is an open investigation.
Kletzok said no outside agencies are helping in the investigation because the hit-and-run occurred in Eugene.
Marty Hermens, president of Reams’ fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, said fraternity members were still mourning the loss of Reams, and some members attended a funeral in Idaho this week.
“We know it’s being handled by the authorities properly,” Hermens said. “We know they’ll do their job.”
Reams’ parents could not be reached before press time.
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