At Astoria Heights Playground, 7-year-old Zaynab Hijazi looked sad and lonely on Saturday, thinking of her playground pal Dolma Naadhun, 7, who was struck and killed by an SUV on Friday while crossing the street. 

“We always used to pull pranks on her brother,” Zaynab recalled, telling NY1 she would miss her friend "so much." “We always used to grab sand and throw it at him."

Zaynab described her friend as a very good one. “She gave me a bracelet,” she said. “I still have it."

Police said an SUV driver struck Dolma as she was crossing the intersection of Newtown Road and 45th Street just before 6 p.m. on Friday, just down the block from her home in Astoria. 

Investigators said the driver, who remained at the scene, failed to come to a complete stop, despite a stop sign at the intersection.

The girl's death came in the wake of a City Council hearing this past week where transportation officials were asked why 2022 was the deadliest year since 2014 for child fatalities due to traffic violence.

The city’s Department of Transportation said 16 children were killed in traffic incidents last year. 

"Even one child killed on our streets is too much,” said Eric Beaton, the deputy commissioner for transportation planning and management at the DOT. “We take this incredibly seriously that we need to address locations where our children are getting killed or seriously injured." 

On Saturday, Astoria resident Rebecca Van Kessel told NY1 it would not be easy explaining to her two sons why their friend Dolma wouldn't ever be back at Astoria Heights Playground.

“It is sad. We're all just trying to find ways to process it, and it's hard," Van Kessel said. "You can't really shelter your kids. Now their friend's not going to be there anymore, right?”

Van Kessel and other parents in the neighborhood believe more traffic lights should replace stop signs, especially where Friday’s crash took place.

“There are a lot of rolling stops in the neighborhood,” Van Kessel said. “Particularly around dinner time, when people are trying to get home after work. It does feel crazy and not safe.” 

Family members who came to a makeshift memorial on Saturday hugged supporters, and told NY1 Dolma's mother is not doing well as she copes with her loss. 

As the investigation continues, no charges have been filed against the driver who struck Dolma.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help the young girl’s family pay for a memorial and funeral expenses.