ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A spokesperson from the Florida Highway Patrol said they have a vehicle in their custody that might have been involved in a hit-and-run crash that resulted in the death of 29-year-old Karissa Hilts on Wednesday evening.
Troopers say that Hilts was killed while walking in the Southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike near John Young Parkway while attempting to locate her cellphone. Investigators said that for some reason, the phone fell out of the car, and Hilts was attempting to retrieve it.
"That passenger got out of that car and attempted to locate the phone in the middle of the Florida turnpike. They walked out. Witnesses indicate she had missed several vehicles," said Steven Montiero, with FHP.
On social media, Hilts' friends and family have expressed a great loss after Hilts had overcome a heroin addiction. News 6 has uncovered that Hilts was featured in the 15th season of A&E's "Intervention." Friends posted on social media that Hilts was sober at the time of her death and had turned her life around.
Investigators said Hilts was recently engaged and was in Florida on vacation.
"They were visiting here, the Orlando area, for certain events they were going to be partaking in,and unfortunately one of the occupants of that car lost their life last night." said Montiero.
Investigators were able to use surveillance images from the nearby Florida Turnpike to identify a vehicle of interest. FHP found a vehicle matching the description on Thursday morning and impounded it for evidence.
A person of interest in the case has spoken with investigators.