RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> A 9-year-old girl was killed and her 7-year-old brother was injured Wednesday when they were struck by a pickup while crossing a street on the way home from school.

The girl and boy were crossing East Avenue at Banyon Street around 3 p.m. after leaving Etiwanda Colony Elementary School when a 69-year-old unidentified man driving a 2000 Ford F350 tried to make a left turn and head south on East but did not see the children and struck them, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department news release.

The children were taken to San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland where the girl was pronounced dead on arrival. The brother was being treated for moderate injuries and was expected to recover, authorities said.

The children’s grandparents, Jonathan and Renee Starr of Covina, came to the scene of the accident on Wednesday evening and thanked a group of about 20 people for setting up a candlelight vigil.

“It’s really good to see these people,” Renee Starr said while looking at the 12 candles set up with roses, other flowers and a teddy bear.

The Starrs said their grandchildren were named Ashlyn and Landon Gardner.

“We’re grateful Landon is alive,” Renee Starr said in between tears. “And our heart goes out to the man who accidently hit our grandchildren. Because accidents happen. And we are praying for him and his family.”

Renee added that Landon said that “he wished he was the one bleeding and not his sister. That was before he knew she had died.”

Jonathan Starr said Landon told police he had pushed the crosswalk button and started to cross the street when he saw the image of a guy walking.

Renee said the children were planning to meet their older brother, Bryce, 12, at another school.

Teacher Kelly Smith, who was at the vigil Wednesday night, said the school would have grief counselors for students and staff today.

“We just heard about it and about 20 of us rushed out here, including district office personnel,” Smith said. “We immediately formed a prayer circle and prayed for our students and families.”

Members of the sheriff’s Major Accident Investigation Team were trying to determine the cause of the crash and were looking for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to contact sheriff’s Deputy Robert Baxter or sheriff’s Sgt. Phill Dupper at 909-477-2800 or 909-477-2817.