Video: Family, Community Gather to Mourn Hadessa and Solaiman Nuri

updated Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at 5:45 p.m.

Stoorai Nuri waited Saturday morning for her husband and two daughters to come wheeling back on their bikes from the park. They never arrived.

"... we just ask that everyone mentions us in prayer and that God be with us," Helen Karzai, Stoorai's sister.

Patch interviewed Karzai at a Sunday night candlelight vigil where close to 200 friends, family and members of the community gathered to pay respects and offer prayer for the victims of .

Stoorai Nuri, the mother and widow of the family from Afghanistan, briefly appeared at the flower-covered memorial scene where just a day earlier her 9-year-old daughter and husband were struck and killed by a reportedly out-of-control SUV. The victims, Solaiman Nuri, 41, Hadessa Nuri, 9, and only survivor, 12-year-old daughter Hannah Nuri, were riding their bicycles on the way home from a morning spent at the park, said Ehsan Nuri, Solaiman's brother.

"I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for coming out here and sharing this moment with us," said Ehsan before addressing those gathered Sunday evening. "We really appreciate it."

The 17-year-old driver of the 2002 white Cadillac Escalade was arrested on a charge of vehicular manslaughter and brought to Juvenile Hall in Martinez, but was released Tuesday, April 10, pending a police investigation.

The following statement was issued by the victims' family:

On behalf on the Karzai/Nuri family we would like to thank the People of Concord and the rest of the community who have reached out to our family and have been a great help in this time of pain. We would also like to thank the Concord police department and the district attorney for all of their hard work.

We understand this will be a long process and have been made aware the driver might be released today. We know this country has a justice system put in place and we respect it, that is why our families moved here over 27 years ago. At this time we are focused on being a family and Laying our loved ones to rest and letting the police do their job. Thank You

Emal Karzai
On behalf of the Karzai/Nuri family

The family set up a Memorial Fund:

Donations should be made to the "Solaiman and Hadessa Nuri Memorial Fund" at any Wells Fargo branch.

the account number is: 3268148529

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