ORLANDO, Fla. -- Family and friends of Austin Wuennenberg gathered Saturday night to remember the train pilot who was killed in a Disney monorail collision.

About 300 people attended the vigil in downtown Celebration, which was held in honor of the 21-year-old who was piloting the purple monorail train when another train collided with his.

Many attendees, including people who never met Wuennenberg, held candles and wore purple ribbons -- matching the monorail and his high school colors -- at the event, which was themed "One Rail, One Family."

Wuennenberg's girlfriend, Nalini Narine, gave an emotional speech at the vigil.

"Sometimes I cry numb to it all, but I have to be strong because Austin wouldn't want to see me knocked down," she said. "I've got stay my path, he wouldn't want to see me knocked down."

Wuennenberg, who graduated from Celebration High School in 2006, was a computer science major at Stetson University and was set to graduate in 2010.

On Facebook, Wuennenberg described his job as a Disney monorail pilot as "running the highway in the sky!" The Facebook page also stated that Wuennenberg worked at Disney in "Sunset Attractions" from June 2006 to September 2008. His interests included video games, computers, programming and comedy.

Wuennenberg's family issued a statement after the crash.

"He always enjoyed his work at Disney, and especially enjoyed his work as a monorail pilot. He has many great friends whom he has positively influenced; everyone will truly miss this dynamic young man. Austin's family would like to thank friends and well-wishers for their kind thoughts and prayers. We appreciate sensitivity and respect from the media during this difficult time."

Some of Wuennenberg's fellow cast members are asking Disney to retire the purple line of the monorail.

"He actually felt a lot about Disney. He really enjoyed working there. It would be a nice thing to do, a nice tribute for him," Celebration resident Carolyn Perry said.

"Something like that does not happen very often. You don't hear about monorail accidents. So, to honor him, absolutely," tourist Karen Caparo said.

Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board left Disney Friday, but their investigation into Sunday's deadly monorail crash is just beginning.

NTSB agents have interviewed all the employees and witnesses involved in the incident and will now closely examine the clues to try to determine exactly how the accident happened.

Alan Rubino, the 62-year-old pilot of the monorail that backed into Wuennenberg's train, is so distraught that he is seeking psychological help.

Rubino issued a statement through Dennis Pickering, another part-time monorail operator, saying he "wishes to extend to the family and friends of Austin his deepest and heartfelt condolences."

Pickering also said it would be inappropriate for Rubino to comment further because of the investigation.

Disney suspended three employees with pay while the investigation continues and some monorail employees are reportedly being drug tested.

Disney said it will wait for the results of the NTSB investigation before making any decisions about honoring Wuennenberg.