Kids returned to Converse Middle School today, but one student was tragically missing.

Palmer police say a 12 year old girl left her Pearl Street home to buy some milk at a nearby gas station.

It was a road she's crossed countless times, but this time she didn't make it.

Police say 84 year old John Damato of Wilbraham struck the girl when she darted out into the road.

Sheila Dupuis heard the crash and witnessed the chaotic scene.

Dupuis says, "A woman was screaming hysterically and she was screaming that a little girl had gotten hit and nobody was stopping, nobody was stopping to do anything."

In fact, nobody seemed to realize what had happened.

Dupuis says, "People just thought it was a dog lying in the road until they got right on top of it and realized it was a young child."

Carole Walbert's daughter is best friends with the teen. She says traffic is heavy in the densely populated area.

Walbert says, "We need some stop signs we need some stop signs we need some issues addressed here there are a lot of young kids around here, a lot."

It's forced some parents to take drastic steps. Dupuis has a son of her own and says last nights accident was the last straw. She drew a thick blue line near the end of her driveway that her son isn't allowed to cross without an adult.

Dupuis says, "It's just a dangerous neighborhood and people have to stop and think there are a lot of children."

Walbert says, "Hear our cry now, unfortunately it has taken this to get it to those measures and it's unfortunate."

Police have confirmed that the girl's name as Raina Harris. Charges will not be filed against the driver.

According to family and friends the Harris remains at Baystate's Intensive Care Unit under a medically induced coma.