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May 12, 2007 1:00 pm US/Pacific
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Vigil Remembers 3 Siblings Killed In Crash
LADERA RANCH (CBS) ―
Three young siblings killed in a rear-end collision on the San Diego (5) Freeway were remembered by thousands of people at a candlelight vigil Friday night.
The vigil at the Town Green, at Crown Valley Parkway and Sienna Avenue, drew hundreds of people in support of Chris and Lori Coble. The Coble children -- 5-year-old Kyle, 4-year-old Emma and 2-year-old Katie, died a week ago.
The children were strapped into car safety and booster seats in the rear of the family's silver Chrysler minivan -- which was driven by the stay-at-home mom, who is 30, with her mother, Cynthia Maestri, 60, of Coto de Caza as a front passenger.
The minivan had stopped in traffic on the southbound lanes of the San Diego Freeway near Oso Parkway when it was rear-ended by a big rig going 55-60 mph. The driver of the truck, loaded with electronics, could not stop in time.
The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate the collision, but has ruled out alcohol, drugs, speed and inattention as the cause.
Both Lori Coble and her mother were released Thursday from the hospital.
As a show of support for the family, pink and blue ribbons dot virtually every tree in Ladera Ranch and have spread out to such communities as Mission Viejo. The ribbons are residents' way of telling the parents that they are not alone in their pain and grief over losing the children.
"The best way to describe what's happened in Ladera Ranch is that it's our small way of reaching out to the family without having to say the words," Neighbor Jennifer Toti said. "I couldn't bring myself to write a card to them. There are no words to express what you feel. We've tried to say it through actions rather than words."
Services for the children are scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church of the Master, 26051 Marguerite Parkway, where Kyle and Emma attended pre-school.
Kyle and Emma fashioned hand-made Mother's Day presents and gave them to their mother during a "Mommie and Me Tea" ceremony the day before they were killed.
Some 30,000 yards of the pink and blue ribbon came courtesy of Joshua Vecchione, the owner of Toy Town, said Kari Huguelet.
"It's an amazing community effort," Huguelet said.
The ribbons even decorate the church where the funeral will take place. They are on railings and trees on the grounds, Toti said.
Donations for the Ladera Ranch family can be made at any Washington Mutual branch or mailed to Washington Mutual, 25692 Crown Valley Parkway, Suite J2, Ladera Ranch, Calif., 92694, marked attention James Maestri FBO Coble Family. The account number is 3951107470.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)