3 tight-knit San Antonio siblings die in crash returning from Port Aransas trip

Three San Antonio siblings died in a car crash while driving back home from Port Aransas Thursday morning.

Abigail Espinoza, Fernando Caleb Espinoza and Eleora Espinoza were driving back from the beach - a trip the siblings often made together, their father, Fernando Espinoza said. They crashed on U.S. 181 about an hour from San Antonio.

Abigail, the eldest at 25, worked at the Bread Box. The sandwich and pastry shop posted video of Abigail working in the kitchen on their Facebook page and noted how much they miss her.

"She brought passion, talent, and kindness into our kitchen every day, and her smile and spirit will never be forgotten," the business said on social media.

The shop also acknowledged her siblings' death. "No family should ever have to endure a loss like this."

Fernando Espinoza said the three siblings were tight-knit.

"The things they couldn't tell mom and dad, they could tell each other," he said. "That's the kind of relationship they had."

The trio usually drove back early in the morning when they went to the beach. They called their father early Thursday morning to let him know they were heading back to San Antonio. When Fernando Espinoza was at work, he got a call from his mother, who had heard that the siblings had gotten into a crash.

Eleora Espinoza, 18, had just graduated from the Harlandale Independent School District. She played clarinet in the marching band and was eventually a drum major.

"She was just a joy to be around, always laughing, always smiling," Fernando Espinoza said. "But not only that, she had a heart. She cared for people too. If somebody was going through something, she wanted to help them."

Fernando Espinoza described his son as a "big softie" - especially when it came to his sisters, whom he would let braid and color his hair when he was a kid. Caleb Espinoza, 23, loved to go fishing at Espada Park on the South Side to "kill time and just to get away from everything."

Abigail also loved being in the water. She often drove to Barton Springs in Austin or whatever river or spring she could find.

"Her paddleboard was her thing. That's one thing that she really loved," Fernando Espinoza said. "Besides being a chef."

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They are survived by their father, Fernando Espinoza; their mother, Candelaria Gomez; and their brother, 18-year-old Joshua Espinoza.

The family is raising money through a GoFundMe to help pay funeral expenses. It had raised nearly $50,000 as of Saturday morning.

"Based on all the love and support we have been receiving, I can see that my kids learned how to be a blessing to others," Fernando Espinoza said. "I can see how they blessed other people's lives, and now people are bringing the blessing to us."

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