Violet Jia Liang had many things to look forward to as she made her way to school Tuesday morning. It was the straight-A student’s first day in the 10th grade at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate. She was just one sleep away from her birthday.

But with the tragic left turn of a construction truck, the 14-year-old’s hopes — and her life — were brought to an abrupt end.

Liang was fatally struck just before 8 a.m. at the intersection of Sentinel Rd. and Lamberton Blvd., in front of Elia Middle School.

Witnesses said the 42-year-old driver jumped out of his truck and dialed 911 while hovering over Liang, who lay face down with her backpack still on.

No charges have been laid as of yet.

“We had to cut her backpack off, turn her over and I started doing chest compressions until the paramedics got here,” said a teacher at Elia who performed CPR on the teenager, but refused to be named.

Liang was pronounced dead at the scene after attempts to revive her failed.

“It was very sad but it was inevitable,” said witness Michelle Wellington. “We see all the time how the trucks don’t obey. One of them almost hit my girls while I was walking them to school today.”

It’s the second time this year a child has been killed by a truck. Liang’s death renewed calls for increased safety in school zones, particularly from Councillor Gary Crawford who represents Scarborough Southwest.

After 5-year-old Kayleigh Callaghan-Belanger was killed by a city garbage truck on March 8 in Crawford’s ward, he got council to ask the waste management department to review routes and training to ensure similar accidents don’t reoccur.

Crawford said Tuesday he now wants staff to look into a no-drive zone for garbage trucks around schools at the beginning and end of the school day when kids are in the streets. The former school trustee acknowledged his proposal could be unworkable for truck drivers.

Friends remembered Liang as energetic and studious, with a penchant for performing.

“Her father taught her how to sing when she was younger,” said Jennifer Lieu, 15, who’d known Liang since kindergarten. “She had a beautiful voice.”

Vikki Vang, 15, another childhood friend, said Liang’s birthday was Wednesday.

“Now I can’t even wish her a happy birthday,” Vang said. “It makes this even sadder.”

C.W. Jefferys principal Monday Gala told reporters Liang was “a fantastic student” who was part of the school’s enrichment program.

The collision that killed Liang occurred in an area local residents say has become increasingly dangerous over the past few months as construction has increased on the nearby Finch West TTC station and various watermains.

“These trucks are doing 60 to 80 kilometres (per hour) down my residential street,” said Sarah Robertson, 23, who lives a few doors down from Liang’s family. “I can see the family’s house right now . . . they’re going to see dump truck after dump truck going by outside and that’s going to be such a terrible reminder of how their daughter died now.”

Residents have been pressing local councillor Anthony Perruzza to increase street safety in the area.

“Trucks are using these streets as shortcuts to get to their construction sites,” said Phuong Nguyen, who lives across the street from Liang’s family.

“It’s dangerous. There are lots of schools in this area. . . . But (Liang) was very careful. I always saw her looking around for cars before she crossed the street.”

Perruzza agreed Tuesday that heavy truck traffic and school zones are “a bad mix.” In light of the accident, he said he also supports Crawford’s push for a review.

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Crawford said he’s heard the review will likely take another year because the waste management department has yet to hire an outside consultant.

The councillor said he plans to ask city staff to speed up the review.

“This is two children who have been killed within school zones this year,” he said. “This review from staff needs to happen sooner rather than later.”