Leslie Souza loved to ride.

Whether it was on a Harley or in a dragster, Souza spent most of his spare time at the racetracks.

"We'd be at (Hawaii Raceway Park) all the time," said Souza's son, Leslie Jr. "Every race, we were there."

When the racetrack closed last April, Souza, a 52-year-old Kapahulu resident, took up motocross with his son, who customized a Kawasaki 250 for him. The two would spend nearly every weekend at Kahuku Motocross Park.

On Sunday afternoon, Souza and his son rode around an area at Kahuku known as the Playground. Leslie Jr. remembers greeting his dad with a thumb's up before heading down one of the hills. When he looked back, he saw that his dad had missed a turn and fell off his bike. By the time Leslie Jr. got to him, he was unconscious.

"He was slowing coming up and I was yelling for help at the top of my lungs," said Leslie Jr., 27, of Kapahulu. "But nobody came."

A friend's son went to get help. Another woman, whom Leslie Jr. didn't know, phoned for help. Souza complained about difficulty breathing.

Paramedics took Souza in critical condition to Kahuku Hospital, where he died. The city medical examiner's office said Souza died of multiple internal injuries suffered in the accident.

Leslie Jr. said his father was a very cautious rider, often opting to sit out trail rides he deemed too difficult.

"He's a cruiser, he rides like his age say," Leslie Jr. said. "That's why when I seen him crash, it freaked me out."

Souza was born Sept. 5, 1954, on Maui, then moved to O'ahu for high school, graduating from Kalani High in 1972.

He joined the Hawai'i Army National Guard, where he last worked as a heavy-equipment inspector.

In February 2006 Souza returned to the Islands after an 18-month deployment to Iraq with the guard's 29th Support Battalion, Leslie Jr. said. It was Souza's first deployment.

In his spare time, Souza was always tinkering in the garage, working on a project around the house, or fixing something for a friend, Leslie Jr. said.

"He was super happy-go-lucky and got along with everybody," he said. "He was the kind of guy you met and you think you've known him for 10 years. He was so awesome."

Leslie Jr. finds solace in knowing his father died doing something he loved. "That whole day he was happy," he said. "He had this big smile on his face."

Souza leaves behind his wife of 32 years, Jacquelyn, and two children, Leslie Jr. and Hollie. Memorial services are pending.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com.