PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The father of the 9-year-old girl who was struck and killed by a driver in Pittsburgh’s Homewood neighborhood over the weekend says he will miss her “forever.”

According to police, Courtney Carter was riding her bike on Rosedale Street on Sunday when the driver of the SUV struck her. Carter’s school year was set to begin in a week at Pittsburgh Faison K-5.

“My daughter was just loved, pure love,” her father Cory Carter said Monday. “Beautiful soul, beautiful person, inside and out, man. She’s really going to be missed.”

He said he still couldn’t believe his first daughter had died.

“She was my first daughter, my first love,” he said. “She was my everything. I can’t believe she’s gone.”

“I will miss my daughter forever,” he added.

A woman who was at the scene Sunday told KDKA-TV that two brothers of the 9-year-old girl called for help after she was hit. Other people stopped and prayed for her, she said.

After the accident, the girl was taken to a local hospital, where she died. Authorities said the driver of the SUV was still at the scene of the accident and was cooperating.

Sources told KDKA-TV that the 9-year-old girl was riding her bike on a side street and crossed an intersection in front of the driver. There is also no evidence that alcohol was involved.

At this time, no charges have been filed.

“Her hair was wild when she was younger,” said Cory Carter. “She looked like a little troll, so I called her Troll. That was my baby, my Courtney.”

He said she was a shining light, always happy and smiling.

“I’m just heartbroken,” he said. “I saw my baby take his last breath. Please pray for me and my family. We’re having a hard time dealing with this.”

A Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesman said Courtney Carter was a valued member of the school community who will be sorely missed by all who knew her.