MIAMI -- The parents of three children who died in a car crash Sunday are planning their funeral, and they said they cannot afford it.

Speaking through her attorney, Mirian Serrano talked about the nightmare she has been living. On Sunday morning, her husband, Hector, was sitting at a stoplight in their minivan on South Dixie Highway with their three children -- 10-year-old Hector, 7-year-old Esmeralda and 4-year-old Amber -- when another car rear-ended it. The three children died.

"I would never want anyone, nobody, nobody in the world to go by the situation that I am going through," Mirian Serrano said.

Police said 40-year-old Gabriel Del Risco, a man who had 26 traffic tickets in the past eight years, was responsible for the crash.

"In my heart, I lost my children. I don't hate him. I forgive him," Mirian Serrano said.

The funeral for the children will cost nearly $30,000. Flanked by her priest and her family, Mirian Serrano wanted to give thanks to the community for their donations.

"I give thanks to God for this. To all the people who try to help me, I thank them from my heart," she said.

The Serrano's story has touched the hearts of many in South Florida, and the family is aware of the support.

The grieving mother had a message to any parents listening to her voice.

"I tell them to love your children, take care of them. They are the only thing you have," Mirian Serrano said. "I lost mine, and I can't see them again, so make sure you do stay close to each other."

A candlelight vigil will be held for the children on Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church at 14881 SW 288th St.

The services are scheduled for this weekend. A viewing will be held at the same church on Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

A memorial bank fund has been set up to collect money to help pay for the children's funerals. People who want to help can go to locations of the Community Bank of Florida and ask to donate to the Serrano Family Funeral Fund. Donations are accepted in cash or check form. Checks can be made payable to Serrano Family Funeral Fund.

Donations can be taken to the following Community Bank of Florida locations:

Main Office: 28801 SW 157 Ave., Homestead, FL 33033

Campbell Square: 809 N. Flagler Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Florida City: 302 W. Palm Dr., Florida City, FL 33034

Florida City Instore: 33501 S. Dixie Hwy., Florida City, FL 33034

Perrine: 18765 S. Dixie Hwy., Miami, FL 33157

Princeton: 24701 S. Dixie Hwy., Princeton, FL 33032

Quail Roost: 19990 S.W. 177 Ave., Miami, FL 33187

Krome: 536 N. Krome Ave., Homestead, FL 33030

Community Centre: 2804 N.E. 8th St., Homestead, FL 33033

Those who would like to help also can contribute to a fund established to the Jackson Memorial Foundation. They can mail donations to:

Jackson Memorial Foundation
Fund 279
901 NW 17th St., Suite G
Miami, FL 33136

For more information, call the Jackson Memorial Foundation at 305-355-4999.

Driver Had History Of Traffic Violations

Del Risco, the other driver involved in the fatal crash, had 13 moving violations and one DUI in seven years. Ten points had been assessed against his record.

But records showed that nine times, hearing officers withheld adjudication. There was no conviction and no points for Del Risco, Local 10's Jeff Weinsier reported. On two occasions, Del Risco opted to go straight to driving school and avoided going to court and before a hearing officer at all.

Weinsier asked attorney Victor Vedmed whether withholding adjudication and not assigning points to a driver's license sends the message that drivers can be careless and nothing will happen.

"No, it doesn't, because what happens when they withhold an adjudication is people get a lot of school. They get fines. It's tough to pay fines, especially in these economic times. You get fines of $300, $400 on these things,"

The Serranos think that if Del Risco's license had been suspended, the deaths of their children could have been prevented. But those involved in the system said that is unlikely.

According to judicial administrators, right now in Miami-Dade County, 400,000 people have suspended driver's licenses, and they said most still drive.

In fact, judicial sources said many of them drive to court on a suspended license.

With 1.5 million citations issued in Miami-Dade County each year, it is impossible for the system to handle trials for all who want them, and cutting deals to avoid a courthouse backlog is a reality

On two occasions, Del Risco opted to go straight to driving school to avoid going to court, Weinsier reported.

Del Risco remained in the hospital on Tuesday. He has not been charged, and police continue to investigate the incident.