The driver involved in a fatal car crash at Kalaeloa yesterday was granted a one-year deferred sentence.

Daniel A. Rebujio, 21, of Kapolei was sentenced yesterday by Circuit Judge Reynaldo D. Graulty. In addition to the deferred sentence, Graulty suspended Rebujio's driver's license for a year, ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service, and fined him $500

Chief deputy prosecuting attorney Laura Maeshiro said the sentencing was part of an agreement reached Sept. 8 in which Rebujio entered a no-contest plea to misdemeanor third-degree negligent homicide.

Rebujio was driving a car that went off the end of Franklin Roosevelt Avenue at Kalaeloa. The car went airborne and plowed into the embankment of a canal on July 24, 2006. Passengers Leslie Kim, 16, and Tanya House, 18, were killed in the crash.

The state has since placed concrete barriers at the location, which is at the end of a straightaway with no street lights.

A few days after the accident, Lester Kim said his son might still be alive had the state had barriers in place. "If they did hit these barriers, I think they would have had a better chance anyway," said Lester Kim, who added that warning signs might have also prevented the accident.

"How simple is that? Put up a sign that says, 'road ends' or 'dead end?' Kim said at the time.

A civil suit from the July 2006 crash is pending against the state.

In November 2006, Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto said the lack of warning signs and barriers at the end of Roosevelt Avenue created a danger that was the underlying cause of a 2003 fatal car crash in acquitting the driver, John G. Elder, of negligent homicide.

Elder's Chevrolet Camaro went off the two-lane road, became airborne and slammed into the canal embankment.