PLANT CITY, Fla. — More than 100 people gathered Thursday evening to remember the family killed in a Plant City when the SUV they were driving in was hit by a trainon Sept. 23.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said five members of the Hernandez family, along with two friends of the children, were in the vehicle on their way to a birthday party when it was hit by a train while crossing tracks.

Loved ones arrived at the home of a family friend carrying balloons and wearing red and white. The colors were in honor of Aniella Hernandez, 22.

“I would say her favorite color was red,” said Jadiaya Gordon. “Her car was red. She went to Valdosta State — their colors are red, white, and black. When I think of the color red from now on, I’m gonna think of her.”

Gordon said her brother began dating Aniella — who friends and family called “Ani” — almost eight years ago, when they were freshmen in high school.

“She was known as Fly Girl Ani, Fly Girl AV. She was just a beautiful spirit, gone too soon,” said Gordon. “All of them were beautiful people. Loved me and my family like we were their kin.”

Aniella and her parents, Jose Hernandez, 52, and Enedelia Hernandez, 50, and siblings Alyssa, 17, and Julian, 9, were killed when their car was hit by the train.

Friends of Alyssa Hernandez said style ran in the family.

“We would all sit in class waiting for her to come into class with her beautiful outfits. She never re-wore one,” said Alivia Baker.

They said the teen dreamed of going to the University of Florida and was among the brightest in their college prep class.

“I saw her paper, and it was, like, top one, and she showed it to me secretly. She didn’t want me to tell anybody, and I’m like, ‘How aren’t you bragging about this?’ And she always didn’t want to make anybody feel like less,” said Daghnne Guzmana.

Loved ones released balloons all at once - a symbol of the Hernandez family’s unity. With it came an outpouring of emotion.

“That was my brother’s soul mate,” said Gordon. “He’s definitely gonna miss her a lot. They’ve been in love since they were kids, so it’s gonna be really hard for him. I just ask that the community keep him and her family uplifted.”

The other person killed in that crash was 17-year-old Jakub Lopez. Another passenger, Guillermo Gama, was seriously injured but is expected to survive.