Vigil held for two teens who died last week

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- Hundreds of students gathered at Austin High School Sunday night to remember two of their own that passed away last week.

Students who should otherwise be enjoying their Thanksgiving break are hurting-mourning the loss of two classmates in separate incidents.

"I thought it was a joke honestly. I thought it was a practical joke that some friends had told me," said student Anthony Cramer.

Arjun Gali, 15, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday. His friends say he died at home from a heart condition.

"He was such a great kid honestly he was so smart he was so intelligent," said a student attending.

And two days later-another blow, this time a car accident claimed the life of 15-year-old Ben Silas.

Gabriel Heppner spent his weekend organizing this vigil.

"I thought it be just the family and a few friends," said Heppner. "I didn't think we'd have a majority of our school population and some of these people don't even go to school."

"We went out and bought 264 candles," said student Nick Elkins.

Close to 300 candles were still not enough for all those who gathered. The response to tonight's impromptu event speaks volumes not only about the two students gone to soon.

"They both had a lot of friends and they both were loved by a lot of people," said student Jacob Nicholson.

Silas was a passenger in a vehicle that was traveling on Homeward Way. The driver, a 16-year-old male, was going too fast, according to police. He lost control and crashed near the intersection of Homeward Way and New Territory Boulevard.

Police have not released the name of the 16-year-old driver. His friends say he's recovering in the hospital.