A 4-year-old was struck and killed by an SUV in Oakland, New Jersey on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The child's mother and her two other small children were also hit at the intersection of Ramapo Valley Road and Oak Street just before 3:45 p.m. Witnesses said good Samaritans converged on the scene to help the family.

Belongings were scattered on the roadway. A distraught Kathleen Pope works nearby.

"I just heard screaming, and then I heard, 'My babies! My babies!'" Pope said as she held her face and started crying.

Massive response by first responders

Police, fire, and Emergency Medical Services quickly arrive and Medevac helicopters also assisted with the response.

A family member of the victims said the two children who survived are 9 months old and 5 years old. He said the family had just left a doctor's appointment at Milestones Pediatrics. Witnesses said they were crossing Ramapo Valley Road when tragedy struck.

The 4-year-old victim was described as a very happy child.  

"It's terrible," said Jessica Ng, who works nearby.

Pope said she was struggling to cope with what she witnessed, adding her entire office ran outside to help.

"They grabbed everything and deserted the office, literally every single one of them. Gloves, everything. Doctors, nurses," Pope said. "Everything was done that could've been. Everything. Some of the pediatricians were crying."

Some express concern about the site of the tragedy

Ramapo Valley Road is also known as Route 202. Some neighbors said they fear crossing the busy thoroughfare.

"I always stay on this side and never go to the other side," Ng said. "Just hearing about it, it's sad. They didn't get to experience life the way you hope to. I don't think a parent should ever bury a child, especially at that age."

Police said the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

• New Jersey