The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a driver who they say hit and killed a woman along a Volusia County road.

• Driver sought in fatal DeLand hit-and-run
• Crash happened on SR 44 near Padrick Avenue
  
• Residents have said stretch of road is dangerous
  

According to troopers, the crash happened just before 10 p.m. Sunday night on State Road 44 near Padrick Avenue in DeLand.

Officials said the crash happened along a stretch of roadway that area residents have said is dangerous.

According to FHP, 57-year-old Catherine Flora of DeLand was walking toward the intersection of S.R. 44, also called New York Avenue, and Padrick Avenue when she was hit by the front of a vehicle. 

At this time, investigators don’t have a description of the vehicle or the driver and are asking for help in this case. 

Friends of Flora, Danny Heuss and his wife, are hoping to find answers regarding the death of their friend and neighbor. They said Flora was walking home with her her fiancé when a vehicle slammed into her and kept going as the two tried to cross the street.

"There was just bam and she was flying in the air," Danny said.

Authorities searched for any evidence they could find Monday, recovering a wallet and a severely cracked cell phone. FHP also took new pictures of the scene.

"People just don’t respect this road. They fly up and down it like it’s a race track and don’t give no consideration who’s on it," Danny said.

People in the area say drivers speed through here all the time and there isn't enough light or sidewalks in the area.

Longtime DeLand resident Gene Burr remembers when four were killed two years ago in a fiery crash about mile and half away from where Flora was killed. 

"Dangerous, heavy traffic -- I think something needs to be done," Burr said. "That person, whoever did (this), needs to go to prison the rest of their life."

The laws regarding hit-and-runs were changed in 2014 to create stiffer penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a fatal crash.

Because this driver took off, when they are caught they will face a mandatory minimum of four years in jail if convicted. 

Anyone with information in this crash is asked to contact FHP at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Charges are pending and the crash remains under investigation.