ST. PETERSBURG, FL (WFLA) — A Pinellas County Iraq war veteran was killed by an alleged drunk driver while riding his motorcycle on New Year’s Eve.
Just hours before being killed, 31-year-old Matthew DeRemer of St. Petersburg, went on Facebook to reflect on 2015 and outlined his plan to better himself in the coming year.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, DeRemer was traveling west on 102nd Ave. North passing through the intersection of 98/97th Street North at 7:55 p.m. New Year’s Eve, when a vehicle traveling eastbound on 102nd Ave. North turned left, crashing into DeRemer, who died at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle, 59-year-old Steven Lee Clarke of Seminole, was arrested on scene for DUI Manslaughter and failure to yield and taken to the Pinellas County Jail.
Earlier that day, Matthew DeRemer posted a message of hope on Facebook, writing: “I look back at 2015’s huge challenges that I’ve overcome, shared with others, and have once again found myself.” He ended saying, “And I really don’t know where I’ll end up tonight but I do know where I windup is where I’m meant to be.”
Along with his message, he posted and image that reads: “We are born in 1 day. We die in 1 day. We can change in 1 day. And we can fall in love in 1 day. Anything can happen in just 1 day.”
