KEALIA — Getting the news that a family member died in a car wreck is a feeling that is inexplicable. “I went cold. There’s no words, there’s nothing really that can prepare you for something like that,” said Chervis Carveiro,
KEALIA — Getting the news that a family member died in a car wreck is a feeling that is inexplicable.
“I went cold. There’s no words, there’s nothing really that can prepare you for something like that,” said Chervis Carveiro, older brother of Markis Carveiro. “As much I wanted to scream and yell, I was at work.”
Markis Carveiro, 28, was one of four people who died in a head-on car wreck in Kealia on Friday.
Chervis Carveiro, who lives on the Westside, said friends told him about the wreck, but he didn’t know his brother was involved until later.
“When the accident happened, my friends called because they were in the area. They said they knew my family lives on the island, and they were telling me about it to try to figure out if my family was good,” he said.
Shortly before 9 a.m., a Nissan Cube driven by Markis Carveiro was heading south on Kuhio Highway, fronting the St. Catherine Cemetery, when it apparently crossed the center line and crashed into an oncoming delivery truck, according to a release from the Kauai Police Department.
Markis Carveiro, who lived in Kapaa, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three passengers — Ashley Gorospe, 26, Kawainakoa Camat, 2, and Chelsey-Lynn Perreira, 28, — also died.
“This was a tragic event that has left our entire community heartbroken. We are a tight-knit island and those involved are our family, friends, and neighbors,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. “The Camat family is my ‘ohana and we are dealing with the sudden loss of our loved ones. My heart is also with the Carveiro and Gorospe families, as well as the driver of the delivery truck, who is also a victim of this tragedy.”
The driver of the delivery truck, a 54-year-old Kapaa man, did not report any serious injuries. His name has not been released.
Carvalho said he hopes the incident will draw attention to the importance of safe driving.
“I can only hope this serves as a wake-up call to all motorists to please drive carefully and attentively to help prevent this type of tragedy from every occurring again,” he said. “I know we can all do better to help keep each other safe on our roadways.”
Chervis Carveiro said his brother was selfless.
“He made sure everyone else was taken care of. He was always available. If he didn’t have time, he made time,” he said.
“When he had a kid, that boy was everything to him.”
Chervis Carveiro said he was at work about 1 p.m. when his supervisor told him he got a call that his brother had been involved in a wreck.
“I knew then something was wrong,” he said. “I was told ‘we have an emergency and your mom is at the hospital.’”
Chervis Carveiro said the first thing that went through his mind was that something was wrong with his son or his son’s mom.
“I called my mom, and she told me there had been an accident and my brother died,” he said.
That was the hardest day of his life, said Chervis Carveiro.
“That was a moment where all your guards, protections and emotions, it’s going to come out,” he said. “There’s no way to stop it.”
Gorospe, also of Kapaa, was in the backseat of the Cube. She was pronounced dead later that day at Wilcox Medical Center.
“Ashley was a very out going person who loved spending time at the beach with her girls,” said Nathan Apuna, whose son, Arian Apuna, was in a relationship with Gorospe.
He said he will miss her smile and laugh. He said he recently spoke with Gorospe, who leaves behind two daughters.
“It’s so funny and at the same time very heartbreaking for me that I was fortunate enough to have spoken with her and my son Arian and their youngest daughter on video chat, and now I just cherish the thought of hearing her before this incident,” he said.
Apuna said he got the news of the wreck from his oldest son, who was on the scene.
“It was a devastating blow for our family when we all found out about what had happened,” he said. “When she was rushed to the hospital, all of my children and family members were present when she passed it was a heavy burden on my son, Arian, who is the youngest sibling, that just broke his heart.”
A gofundme account has been started for Gorospe.
The fundraiser wants to raise $10,000 to help with funeral expenses. As of Tuesday, 31 people had donated $2,120.
The front-seat passenger, Kawainakoa Camat, and his mother, Chelsey-Lynn Perreira, were later pronounced dead at Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu.
In the days following the wreck, Chervis Carveiro said his family is trying to make peace with what happened.
“For me, I’ve come to terms with the fact he’s gone. It’s better knowing he’s not in pain and he’s in a better place,” he said. “My mom, she’s trying her best.”
She’s having a hard time with it, Chervis Carveiro said.
“But her kids are here to support her and take the burden off,” he said.
Chervis Carveiro said he wishes he could have with his brother to help him in his time of need.
“Like he always was for me,” he said.
