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Fuquay-Varina siblings hit, one killed watching fireworks in Wisconsin

A Fuquay-Varina man died and a woman was injured after being hit by a car in Wisconsin during the July 4 weekend.

Posted Updated

By
Aaron Thomas
, WRAL reporter & Sydney Franklin, WRAL multiplatform producer
MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. — A Fuquay-Varina man died and a woman was injured after being hit by a car in Wisconsin during the July 4 weekend.

Authorities in Menomonee Falls said an 18-year-old woman lost control of her car and struck a brother and sister who were watching July 4 fireworks on Sunday night.

Family friends said 24-year-old Benjamin Reimers was killed while his 25-year-old sister, Emily Grace Reimers, remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

"[It's] such a shame. [They're] such a great family ... great kids. We really are heartbroken," said Ken Schweitzer, who has known the Reimers family for 10 years.

In a GoFundMe for Emily Grace Reimers, Falls Baptist Church, where the siblings worked, said she had extensive bleeding, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and broken pelvis from being hit by the car.

The church said Emily Grace Reimers worked as a preschool and music teacher.

A scholarship has also been set up to honor Benjamin Reimers. His church said he was currently a student at Baptist Theological Seminary and was described as a "wonderful teacher, mentor, friend and discipler."

"He was very religious and very warm individual ... very easy to talk to as is the daughter, as is the whole family," said Schweitzer.

The scholarship for Benjamin Reimers will help children take music lessons, the church said.

Chris Gan said he remembers Benjamin Reimers as a polite man who even decided to learn Mandarin as a language.

"HE always had his faith and faith is not through words but through actions," said Gan.

Authorities said the driver stayed on scene of the accident and was cooperative.

"More or less, a lot of people trying to get over to the people in the car to make sure nobody got away because it, to me, seemed like Waukesha parade all over again," said witness Roman Draheim.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been a factor in the crash.

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