Classmates, others gather to remember two dead children

SPRING BRANCH, Texas – Classmates, parents and others gathered Monday night for a candlelight vigil to remember a 10-year-old boy and his 7-month-old sister who died in a weekend car accident.

Brian and Brianna Esparza were fatally injured an accident Saturday evening when the family’s minivan, driven by their father, made a left turn from a non-turn late and was hit from behind by a car.

Brian was not wearing a seat belt and his sister was riding on the lap of another passenger.

The accident happened in the 2800 block of West Mount Houston Road in northwest Harris County.

Investigators have not given their full report to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The district attorney has not decided whether the father will face charges for not having his children properly buckled up. That decision could be left up to a grand jury.

“When I heard that he died at school I was so shocked so I started crying a lot,” Angel Arauja, a classmate of Brian’s at Spring Shadow’s Elementary in Spring Branch Independent School District, said. “He was a good friend.”

Parents and classmates said they held the vigil Monday night to support the family.

Grief counselors were at the school today to help emotional students.

“They told us to make up a big poster and put his name on it and write stuff he liked to do,” said Monserrat Burciaga, another of Brian’s classmates.

Arauja said he knows many people are praying for the Esparza family.

“For that we can see him again one day and i hope that God is taking good care of him,” he said.