By JOHN BURNETT
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The older sister of a 24-year-old Kailua-Kona man killed in a one-car crash that also killed his girlfriend described her younger brother as “my absolute best friend.”
Gary J. “Buddie” Fergerstrom, Jr., was the passenger in a car driven by his girlfriend Mechelle K. Deluz of Waikoloa, on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway near Kiholo Bay on Tuesday afternoon. Police responding to a 2:49 p.m. car determined that Deluz lost control of her 2007 Honda two-door sedan, crossed the center line and ran off the left side of the road, where the car rolled into a lava field.
Neither was wearing seat belts and both were ejected from the car. Deluz was dead the scene, police said, while Fergerstrom was flown by helicopter to North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
“They had just finished work and I guess they were driving back to Kona,” Fergerstrom’s sister, Kristin,
a student at University of Hawaii Center at West Hawaii, said Wednesday. She said her brother was a landscaper and that Deluz worked at Lamonts, a gift shop at the Orchid at Mauna Lani.
The highway remained open while rescue personnel were at the scene but was closed briefly at about 7 p.m. between the 78- and 80-mile markers while police investigated the crash.
Kristin Fergerstrom described her brother as “a friendly, sweet, kind-hearted person.”
“He had so many friends. Everybody knew Buddie,” she said. “He loved to garden. He worked as a landscaper, but he also worked in a garden here at home, taking care of trees and plants. He loved the outdoors. He takes a lot of pride and joy in his gardening.” She added that her brother was “very good at music” and “always had his ukulele with him.”
Kristin Fergerstrom said her brother and Deluz had been a couple “three or four years.” Buddie Fergerstrom had a 5-year-old daughter, Nevaeh, from a previous relationship, while Deluz had a 4-year-old daughter from a previous relationship, Kalia. She described Deluz as “part of the family.”
“She was a very sweet girl, kind, caring, lovable, easy to get along with,” she said. “They were always with each other and did things together as a family. They spent a lot of time with the kids. They were a good couple.”
Condolences were posted on Deluz’s Facebook page.
“You are Forever in my heart. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS,” read one. Another poster wrote: “seriously, how many friends do we have to lose before we learn? wear your seatbelts, because THEY DO save lives.”
Kristin Fergerstrom said her brother went to Kealakehe High School but graduated from Wallace Tutorial Academy, a private school in Captain Cook.
“He wanted to go to college,” she said. “He wanted to finish his education. He wanted to take up diesel mechanics. He’s a hands-on type of person; he likes to try new things. My dad is also a diesel mechanic, so he learned a lot from my dad.”
Police said they didn’t know if alcohol or drugs were involved, but said that speed was a factor in the crash. The deaths were the 14th and 15th official traffic fatalities of 2013, compared to 14 at the same time last year.
It’s the second time this year that a family member has died in traffic collision. Fergerstrom’s cousin, 27-year-old Hannah Fergerstrom of of Kailua-Kona, was killed Feb. 15 in a one-car crash on Mamalahoa Highway in Kailua-Kona. She was a passenger in a northbound 2000 Volkswagen two-door sedan driven by 34-year-old Randall Kawasaki of Waimea, that crossed the center line near the 27-mile marker and struck a utility pole on the makai side of the road. Neither were wearing seat belts.
Kawasaki, who was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, negligent homicide, DUI, promoting a dangerous drug, drug paraphernalia and no insurance. After conferring with prosecutors, police released Kawasaki pending further investigation. He has not been charged, to date.
Kristin Fergerstrom said her family is “all just sticking together.”
“It’s hard,” she said. “My brother was a very strong-minded person with a huge heart, and I love him with all my heart.”
She said that young people should “think before they act” when getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
One simple mistake can lead to a tragedy, you know. Before you jump behind the wheel of a car, think about the consequences.”
Fergerstrom is the son of Gary J. Fergerstrom Sr. and Valerie Fergerstrom of Kailua-Kona. He is also survived by an older brother, Dustin, of Oahu. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Police have initiated negligent homicide and coroner’s inquest cases. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, ext. 229.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
