Woman killed in Orange County hit-and-run crash; driver sought

Victim identified as 36-year-old Laura Ann Miller

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities released a new clue as they continue to search for the driver of a hit-and-run crash that killed an Orange County mother of three on Sunday night.

According to Florida Highway Patrol, 36-year-old Laura Ann Miller was walking on the west shoulder of Orange Avenue, attempting to cross Landstreet Road, when she was struck by a vehicle.

Miller's coworkers said she left work at Olde Dixie Fried Chicken around 8:30 p.m. Sunday night and was last seen walking alone south on Orange Avenue.

Authorities said Miller was found on the outside westbound lane of Landstreet Road just after 10 p.m. and was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where she died. It's unclear how long she was in the road before someone found her.

"Just to hit her and leave her laying there. They said she was alive until she got to the hospital. No one deserves to go like this," said the woman's sister, Karen Tuttle. "Why in the world didn't this person stop? Were you in that big of a hurry to get home that you mow an innocent mother down?"

Troopers said they don't have any witnesses or a vehicle description, but Monday evening they revealed that paint chips, possibly from the suspect's vehicle, were found at the scene. Authorities are now looking for a gray or silver vehicle with possible damage to the right front side.

Her family hopes the driver's own conscience solves this case.

"I was angry at first, but I know that God's going to work on their conscience and he's going to make them tell the truth," said Miller's mother, Lillian Rogers.  "I wonder if they have a family. How would they feel if it was one of their loved ones? Even if I hit a dog, we try our best to find an owner."

Laura's family is having a difficult time dealing with what happened and so are Laura's children who are asking about their mother.

Tuttle said one of Miller's kids asked, "'Do you know what happened to my momma?' He's only 8 years old and very tender-hearted boy.  Now he lost his momma and it's just unreal."

The Florida Highway Patrol says 7 people have died in Orange County in hit-and-runs this year.  Last year, troopers worked 10 in the county for the entire year.  Other agencies also were the lead agency on fatal hit-and-run crashes in the county.


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