SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "I love them dearly. I miss them," said Elizabeth Speanburg, who can think of nothing else but her grandchildren as she sits in a quiet house that is usually filled with them.

An errand with their mom Wednesday night turned into a nightmare.

"It was horrible to hear," said Speanburg.

Schenectady Police Patrolman Kevin Green was one of the first to arrive at Chestnut and State Street.

"When you get there and you see, especially little kids, you know, ages 2 to 15, lying on the street screaming for their mother, and just the obvious injuries, it definitely was the worst I've seen in quite some time."

Sherry Anderson and her six children had been hit by a pickup truck, driven by Joel Matthew Eddy of Saratoga County. Police will soon be able to determine whether he was speeding. For now, Eddy is not facing charges or tickets.

Green said, "He was in shock. He appeared to be in shock and pretty upset."

The worst injuries were suffered by 10-year-old Lynn and 2-year-old Charles. Charles improved quickly after being airlifted to Albany Medical Center. His sister Lynn did not. She underwent emergency surgery and spent Thursday fighting for her life. Green said the other children could have met a similar fate, had it not been for the medics and civilians who had rushed to the scene to help.

Green said, "There were children that were holding some of the children when we got there, our paramedics from the fire department, our police officers that were there first on scene, I think that altogether I think made this possible for these kids to be responding the way they are medically."

But now a grandmother says she needs a bit more help from her community.

Speanburg said, "I need prayers right now, a whole bunch of them, to get them all home."

An account has been set up to help the Anderson family. You can donate by visiting any Citizens Bank.