FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- A candlelight vigil was held Thursday evening (March 3) at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith to commemorate the life of a musician from Alma, Ark.
Matthew Ferrari, 28, was killed in a crane accident on Wednesday morning Highway 7 north of Dover, according to the sheriff's office. The crane was being used for highway construction. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pope County coroner.
An investigation is ongoing.
“His music back there was his passion,” Mark Painter, Ferrari’s older brother, said. “He didn't care if he did anything else in life other than make good music.”
Painter described Ferrari as one of the greatest people he's ever known.
“He was the guy that was always there whenever you needed him,” Painter said. “I could call him at any time, and that boy would be right there for me. I mean, I don't care what time of day it was or what time of night, he was there.”
Ferrari was the lead singer of local band, Vague Vendetta. His bandmates said music was his life.
“We always talked about writing songs together, going on the road together to tour,” Guitarist, James Arway, said. “Even last week, we were talking about being promoters.”
Arway has been friends with Ferrari for more than 10 years and plays guitar for Vague Vendetta. He said the band will never be able to replace their front man.
“I don’t think we're going to get another male vocalist,” Arway said. “It wouldn't seem right to me, but you never know. I mean, matt would want us to keep going. He would want us to rock out for him.”
