A community in mourning gathered at a Surrey temple Sunday to remember Amarpreet Sivia, described by friends as generous and kind, a role model to her peers.

Sivia, a 16-year-old Grade 12 student at Princess Margaret Secondary, died Wednesday after she and two friends on their lunch break stepped off the median, hand-in-hand, into the southbound lanes of 128th Street near 69A Avenue, and were hit by a motorcycle.

Sivia’s death has shattered the school, said Tanzil Hashmi, a Grade 11 student at Princess Margaret.

“We’re supposed to be strong but we’re broken,” he said. “Our family member is gone … It’s a big tragedy.”

Rizwan Razan, a former classmate who was in the same leadership class as Sivia, said the honour roll student was always smiling and loved to laugh. “She’s one of those special people,” he said. “You can’t replace her.”

“It seems so unreal,” added Simran Notra, also a former classmate.

Beside her in the temple’s main hall, friends and loved ones placed lit candles in front of a framed collection of photos of a smiling Sivia.

A priest said prayers and speakers shared memories of the young teen.

Sivia’s two companions, Shahana Samira and Jaspreet Dhami, were injured in the jaywalking accident.

Samira has been discharged after receiving treatment for a broken arm. Dhami suffered multiple injuries and remains in hospital in serious but stable condition.

The driver was also injured in the accident. He has since been released from hospital.

Police are still investigating whether speed was a factor in the mishap. They also appealed for more witnesses to come forward, including the driver of a vehicle the motorcycle had passed just before the crash occurred.

The fatal accident revived calls for a crosswalk at that location, where many students often jaywalk to get to the strip mall across the street.

“It’s needed,” said Razan. “It could’ve been us, too.”

He acknowledged adding a crosswalk might back traffic up on the four-lane road, but said the safety of students should be the priority.