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They never stood a chance against an out-of-control van, which jumped the curb on a busy Chinatown street Thursday. It plowed into a group of young children -- a tragedy that took the lives of a three-year-old boy and four-year-old girl, and left another four-year-old girl seriously injured.

"It was just horrific," said one witness.

The accident took place about 11:30 a.m. on east Broadway.

Witnesses said the van was going in reverse when it jumped onto the sidewalk and into a group of children on a trip to the library from the nearby Red Apple Daycare Center, where shaken parents rushed to pick up their children.

"They take very good care of the children. It's some kind of freak accident. They're very, very careful and good with the children," said one passerby.

The daycare center issued a statement, saying it was doing everything it could now to support its students and parents. The van bore the name of the nearby China Chalet restaurant, though the owner wouldn't speak on camera.

Some in the community say commercial traffic has never mixed well with pedestrians in this crowded neighborhood.

"Traffic and congestion has been one of the major issues facing this community. This tragedy cannot go unnoticed or without some fundamental change in terms of traffic policy for this neighborhood," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

A makeshift memorial had begun to spring up on the sidewalk Thursday night, honoring the victims.

Meanwhile, local leaders will hold a press conference Friday to call for pedestrian improvements in the neighborhood.