22-year-old Alexia Rosales died at the scene while attempting to push children out of harm’s way. Her 1-year-old student, MKaya Amrani died at the hospital.
SAN ANTONIO — It has been one month since two lives were tragically taken outside a Fair Oaks preschool. Back on December 19, Bexar County investigators said a driver who was appearing to have a medical episode, crashed into a fenced in play area outside Montessori Plus Preschool.
22-year-old Alexia Rosales died at the scene while attempting to push children out of harm’s way. Her 1-year-old student, MKaya Amrani would die after a weekslong battle at the hospital.
On Sunday, family, friends and strangers gathered to honor both lives. MKaya’s parents wrote a letter that was read out loud by family friend, Joy Pepper.
“Despite being without oxygen for 45 minutes, she came back to life,” Pepper said. “She stayed with us long enough to give the family hope, strength and a chance to say goodbye.”
Alexia’s sister, Jaylene Rosales also spoke briefly to the crowd.
“She loved those kiddos,” Jaylene said. “She would speak about MKaya and how beautiful she was and how she would run into her arms.”
Recently, both families have partnered up to find some accountability. On Jan. 3, they filed a lawsuit against the school and driver, identified in the suit, as Valeria Haas. Haas has not been criminally charged in the case. However, the suit claims she was negligent for driving with a medical condition.
The school has declined to give a statement regarding the lawsuit.
“I know right now we are sad but we are going to fight for justice,” one friend who wanted to remain unnamed said at the vigil.
Aside from justice, these two families want their loved ones to be remembered for the joy they brought into the world. They described MKaya as a loving and smart baby. Alexia’s family said the young preschool teacher had a passion for kids and was doing what she loved when she died.
“All the kids, they gave her a purpose and they made her feel important and clearly she would have done anything to keep all the kids protected,” Alexia’s friend, Destiny Hamlin said.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation into the crash is still ongoing.