IMPERIAL, Texas — On Wednesday night, a car accident took place on Farm to Market 1053 in Crane County and took the lives of four people.
Three of the deceased were Jackie and Jaden Lee Perkins and Nautica Carrasco, students within Buena Vista ISD.
When news broke of the tragedy, Buena Vista ISD closed its doors for the remainder of the week to allow students the chance to grieve and come to terms with the loss of their classmates.
On Thursday night, the district offered the community as a whole to come together and remember the lives the three students lived during a memorial vigil.
The siblings were each heavily involved in sports, which was reflected in a framed jersey being displayed alongside a photo of them.
The vigil began at 6 p.m. with candles being passed out and a prayer being held.
After the prayer and a rendition of "Amazing Grace," members of the crowd were invited to speak so they could share their memories of the siblings.
Many remembered them as lifelong friends, who went as far back as the sandboxes at the park. Jaden and Jackie were fondly remembered for being valued teammates on the football field who were the first to get the team motivated before gametime. Nautica was remembered for her confidence as a volleyball and basketball player, who would never quit and played with a competitive edge rivaled by few.
“It just goes to prove what type of boys and young lady that these three students were," said Manuel Gamboa, a teacher and basketball coach at Buena Vista ISD. "The testimonies that everybody shared tonight were spot on as far as their character and who they were and the impact they made him on our on our school community and the community of Imperial as well.”
Their impact was felt in the hallways as well. All three siblings were role models to their peers, no matter their age.
To Jackie, Jaden and Nautica, everyone at Buena Vista ISD was an equal who were treated with respect, compassion and a warm smile.
To the community of Imperial and Buena Vista ISD, their light will continue to shine on in the memories that they have of them.
“They just had that piercing look of confidence that you knew that they were ready to go. In the halls, they were just these awesome role models; it was awesome to witness kids of their stature and their popularity," Gamboa said. "[They were] nice to even our little ones, from kindergartners all the way to sixth grade.”