The Province - May 15, 2005

UBC student community mourns loss of two young crash victims
WEEKEND TRAGEDY: Popular sorority, fraternity members died in early-morning collision

by Elaine O'Connor

Two Richmond youth -- popular members of the University of B.C.'s Greek community -- were killed yesterday in a collision police believe was caused by excessive speed and failure to stop at a red light.

Karen Jean Furstrand, 20, and George Bush, 24, died after they were T-boned by an SUV in the intersection of Steveston Highway and No. 2 Road just after 3:30 a.m.

Furstrand, a third-year English student and member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, was on her way home from a night out celebrating a friend's birthday in Vancouver.

Her sorority sisters gathered to grieve yesterday at their campus house, remembering a girl they described as a leader who spoke her mind, gave them a shoulder to cry on and knew the most important thing in life was good friends.

"This is going to affect 500 young adults in the Greek system. We all knew her. I think a lot of the girls looked up to her," said sorority president Jessica Hall, who acted as Furstrand's "big sister" when she joined.

"She always made sure we were happy. She acted as a mom for all of us new girls," said Nicole Sturgeon, Furstrand's "little sister."

"She was lively and happy and always there for her friends," said close friend Jessica Erickson, 20.

The irony of the accident, said her father, Erik Furstrand, is that as usual Karen was the designated driver: Bush, a Sigma Chi fraternity member and a friend of her boyfriend Arash Amouzgar, was her last passenger of the evening.

"She had a wonderful heart," her father said yesterday from his home where he was comforting Karen's brother, Ian, 24, and sister, Sonia, 18.

Furstrand said his daughter, a Burnett Secondary graduate who lived at home while she attended UBC, was a responsible girl who did well at school, loved snowboarding and skiing, was active in her sorority and volunteered for charities.

Her boyfriend of almost two years remembers her as a generous soul who constantly gave money to others. She helped raise money for the Easter Seals, the Kidney Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

"She was so beautiful. She was sort of the glue that kept everyone together," said Amouzgar, a fourth-year UBC student and Sigma Chi member.

Amouzgar, 21, said Furstrand was studying for a double major in English and women's studies with the aim of entering graduate school and then starting a career in law.

Bush, who graduated from UBC in December with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, was also a close friend of Amouzgar and a fellow Sigma Chi fraternity member.

Amouzgar remembers Bush as a funny, talented guy who was studying to become a film director at Langara College, but who still made time for his UBC friends.

At the time of the crash, the pair were driving a white 1987 Toyota Corolla north of No. 2 Road.

The other driver, a 27-year-old female Delta resident, was in a 1996 Ford Explorer travelling east on Steveston Highway.

Police said Furstrand and Bush likely died instantly, their car overwhelmed by the bulk of the SUV.

Richmond RCMP Cpl. Dave Williams of the collision reconstruction unit was on scene trying to determine what happened.

He said a police cruiser patrolling in the area and crews at a nearby fire hall reported the accident almost simultaneously.

The SUV driver was taken to Richmond General Hospital with minor injuries and emotional distress.

She was released yesterday.

Williams said at least one of the drivers was speeding.

"I will confirm that, yes, speed is a factor, but I will not say against which vehicle," he said.

Furstrand's car was bought with earnings from her part-time jobs at The Boathouse and as a Granville Island ferry operator. Her dad described it as "an old beater" that could barely reach highway speed.

Police believe one of the vehicles ran a red light.

"Who ran the red light, I don't know," Williams said. "We have no witnesses at this stage of the game to answer that for us."

Richmond RCMP are appealing for witnesses to come forward and help with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Hall said, the entire UBC Greek community is mourning the loss of a "brother" and "sister."

"I just know she would have had no regrets," Amouzgar said. "She lived life the way she wanted to."