Five-year-old Kayleigh was just a block from her home, walking with three other children, when a city garbage truck hit and killed her Thursday afternoon.

Kayleigh — a Cliffside Public School student identified by multiple neighbours and classmates as the victim — was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two of the three other children suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital.

The truck driver, a 62-year-old man, left his vehicle and collapsed from shock when he saw the children. He too was taken to hospital. No charges have been laid.

Cliffside school sits on East Haven Dr. in Scarborough, and the four children — Kayleigh, a 6-year-old boy, 13-year-old girl and another girl around 13 — had just left the school around 3:30 p.m. when the accident occurred.

The kids were crossing Cliffside Dr. from east to west, at East Haven Dr., when the truck, turning east from East Haven on to Cliffside, hit them, police said.

The 6-year-old boy suffered a head injury and the 13-year-old girl a leg injury, Toronto EMS said.

The injured children were taken to hospital and were in serious but stable condition Thursday night. The fourth girl was unharmed from the accident.

At Cliffside, officials whispered updates as they struggled with the news. Superintendent Nadira Persaud said it’s a “tragic loss” and asked for privacy.

Liam Middleton, 18, had just left a nearby coffee shop when he heard “screeching” and then a “banging noise.”

“I saw kids lying in the road,” he said. “One’s face was smashed in and there was blood everywhere.”

Amanda Lawryshyn, whose 6-year-old son Thomas is in Kayleigh’s class, said speeding around the school has been an issue in the past.

“I’ve had to yell at people to pay attention and slow down,” she said, adding she signed a local petition recently to reduce the speed limit on East Haven Dr.

Lawryshyn said Kayleigh used to have a crush on Thomas, and would run around trying to kiss him.

“She was just a smiley, happy girl that ran around and had fun,” Lawryshyn said, adding Kayleigh loved to wear all sorts of different dresses.

Ashley Sedjemore, 23, who lives in the area, said speeding garbage trucks in particular have been an issue in the neighbourhood.

“Every time I see them, they’re going too fast,” she said. “They should slow down and take their time.”

Const. Clint Stibbe said it’s too early to say whether speed played a factor in the accident.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Mayor Rob Ford said he was “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn of the accident.

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“It’s with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to the victims during this difficult time,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers, and I’m sure those of every parent in Toronto, are with the children, their families and friends.”

The city will do everything it can to assist the victims’ families and co-operate fully with the police, Ford said.