INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis police continue to search for the driver who hit and killed a woman Sunday night on the near northwest side of Indianapolis, then abandoned the car and ran away.
The Marion County coroner has identified 32-year-old Dominique Berryhill as the victim in that deadly hit-and-run Aug. 18.
Sunday's sudden, violent loss of life at West 28th Street and East Riverside Drive has gutted her family.
"It's a hard pill to swallow, honestly," said Berryhill's cousin, Chamika Dillard. "It's so tough."
Outgoing, funny, independent, Berryhill, who family and friends called "Domi," leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter and a large extended family.
Family said Berryhill was the life of the party. She would have celebrated her next birthday in just a couple of weeks.
"She was one of those people when she walked in, she'd light up the whole room," said her cousin, Corey Berryhill Jr.
"If she could help you, she would help you," Dillard said. "She was just that girl!"
Sunday night, just before 8:30 p.m., Berryhill was at Riverside Park for a block party/car show/get together she attends nearly every week.
It's usually a night of fun with friends.
But this time, IMPD said someone driving recklessly took her life.
Investigators said a driver was speeding then fishtailing on 28th Street, hitting Berryhill as she stood next to her car talking to friends.
"There was an adult female that was out standing next to a vehicle. It appears that she tried to get out of the way of the car before she was struck, and a car ultimately lost control of the vehicle and struck her," IMPD Lt. Anthony Patterson said. "The driver got out of the vehicle and ran from the scene. Despicable."
"She was an innocent bystander, so us as the family feels like she needs prison time. He, she, whoever done it needs prison time," Dillard said.
It's not just Berryhill's friends and family mourning this loss, but also the witnesses who tried desperately to save her Sunday night.
"We heard the accident. We heard the crowd. We heard people pleading for help," Sydney "Bumpy" Johnson said. "She didn't deserve that. She was out there to have a good time like everybody else."
Johnson is trained as a nurse and recently got certified to train others in CPR.
She was at the block party, too, and said when the crash happened, witnesses took action. A group of men called 911 to get police and medics on the way.
Johnson, her mom and another bystander started CPR, providing care at a critical time.
"We held her hand. We checked her pulse. We gave compression. I gave breaths. We did everything we could to preserve her life because she's somebody's baby," Johnson said. "Yeah, I wish it could have been successful because this was unnecessary, and it was tragic. But I really, really just wanted the family to know that she wasn't alone in that moment."
A daughter, a mom is now gone.
Berryhill's family is now seeking justice and begging all drivers to be safe.
"Yes we want justice," Dillard said. "We want justice."
"People driving, slow down," Corey said. "Put your seatbelt on and look at that traffic sign because now we have to go hours, minutes, days — forever — without our loved one."
The family is holding a balloon release in honor of Berryhill Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at the scene of the crash at 28th and Riverside.
The public is welcome to attend.
Meanwhile, IMPD is asking anyone with information on the driver who hit Berryhill to come forward and talk with detectives. Tips can also be made anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.