A North Texas family is grieving after the death of a 14-year-old Coppell girl.

Veronica Sheer suffered critical injuries earlier this month after being hit while trying to cross the busy intersection at Town Center Boulevard and Denton Tap Road.

It will be a long time before her young friends cross this street without thinking of her.

It was Sheer's infectious smile that sealed her friendship with Sonali Kalvala only moments after meeting.

"She’s always laughing, and there was always a joke every time with her," Kalvala said.

A car hit Sheer after school on Oct. 4.

The driver was a classmate of hers. Sheer suffered a critical head injury, losing her fight for life on Friday.

"I've seen God knows how many accidents, God knows how many close to accidents," Brian Lee of Coppell said.

Lee, who works in the area, said traffic and walking signals don’t provide enough protection for the dozens of Coppell students who cross the street daily.

"Dangerous would be the word. I’d say ridiculous,” Lee said.

He’d like to see a crossing guard at the location before and after school.