Shocked friends of Irish girl, Kalie Gill, who lost her life when struck by a runaway car at a church carnival in Coyne Park, in Yonkers, have been remembering the 15-year old sophomore.

Her sister Lindsey (12) was badly injured in the same incident when a local high school teacher lost control of her automobile. Lindsay is said to be doing better in hospital despite major injuries. A third sister, Jamie (20), and her parents, Damien and Karen, are at her bedside.

Kalie had just come back with her family to live in the U.S after eight years in Ireland where the family ran a pub and shop business, in Leitrim, after returning home.

"Kalie was a sweetheart. I last spoke to her on Friday, thinking it would not be our last words together. She was willing to always crack a joke and make you smile someway. I love this about her, a true caring person that is now watching over us. She is always in my heart and will forever be a Barnabite," said Ericka Miranda.

"It's still hard to believe that a tragedy like this has hit the Woodlawn / Yonkers area. I've known Kalie since she came over and words can't even describe how sweet she was. She was always smiling. Kalie lit up the room and had an amazing personality. It could have been anyone that Friday night, but why Kalie. She will forever be in my heart. She may be gone now, but she will never be forgotten." said a classmate Noreen Charles.

School friends also took to Twitter and Facebook to give their own reminiscences of the young girl.

In a statement on its website last night, St Barnabas High School, in the Bronx, said on Friday “sophomore Kalie Gill was tragically killed and her 12-year sister Lindsey, a student at St Barnabas Elementary School, is in critical condition. Our deepest condolences are sent to the Gill family on their inconsolable loss as well as our prayers on a full recovery for Lindsey”.

Meanwhile, Orla Kelleher, of the Aisling Irish Center, in the Bronx, said the center would offer counseling if needed to friends of the girl and people in the Irish community affected by the tragedy.

"We will do anything we can to help ease the burden of this tragedy," she said.

Meanwhile it has been learned that Kalie's father, Damien, had just recently returned from his mother's funeral in Ireland in his native Leitrim. Elizabeth Gill had passed away on September 28th. Her passing is deeply regretted by her eight children, John, Liz, Damien, Cathy, Anthony, Carmel, David, and Paul.

The small town of Fenagh, in Leitrim, was in deep mourning after the death of local girl Kalie.

Kalie's parents Damien and Karen Gill and their family had moved back to Fenagh some eight years ago where they purchased Quinn's Pub. Earlier this year they decided to come back to New York. Kalie was a very popular sophomore at St. Barnabas High School.

Local councilor Gordon Hughes told Shannonside Radio the news had come as "a great shock locally" and that people "can't believe" what happened. He said many of the family still lived in the area.

Martin Kenny, Sinn Fein councillor from Aughavas, stated  "Everyone is very shocked and saddened. I know they lived here for the past number of years and had just returned back to the States.

"Lots of people from the area are over there and they have relatives there, too. Everybody's hearts go out to the family," he added.

Gordon Hughes stated the economic downturn had resulted in the family returning to the U.S.

"Damien had a few other businesses and it was just with the downturn that they made the decision to go back to the States," he explained

The Gill girls were among 500 attending a fall fund-raising carnival for St. Paul's Church, in the Irish neighborhood on Friday night, when a car mowed them down.

It is believed that the car was driven by a sixth grade local school teacher and that she may have suffered a heart attack after pulling out of a local parking lot. Police have not charged her.

Over 500 Irish and others gathered on Saturday night to pray at a vigil for Kalie and the Gill family at the site where the accident occurred in Coyne Park near McLean Avenue. The prayers were led by Monsignor Edward Barry of St. Barnabas Church.

Separately, a special mass was said at 5pm at St. Paul's on Saturday and the Reverend James Healy led the prayers for the family. Reverend Healy, pastor of St. Paul's Parish called it a "day of sorrow" and identified the family members who had been injured and killed.

The girls were enrolled in St. Barnabas school and the family is well known and respected. Damian Gill, Kalie's father, is a well-known figure in GAA circles.

Sources say the distraught parents were at the bedside of Lindsey, who suffered serious injuries. They say that Lindsey is responding to treatment.

Police said a 2002 Jeep was leaving the parking lot of Coyne Park at about 9 PM on Friday night when it struck three occupied vehicles, four pedestrians, and two parked vehicles before coming to a stop.

Kiliana Ortiz (47) of Yonkers saw the incident. "It was crazy the way she sped out — everybody was screaming and trying to get out of her way," she said.

"She must have been going 50 mph."

Kalie was pronounced dead at a local hospital and her 12-year-old sister was in critical condition. Two other teenagers were treated for minor injuries.

According to police, the driver of the Jeep remained at the scene and was interviewed by detectives.