Body of 20-year-old woman found near Lawrence hours after suspected hit-and-run

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help after a woman's body was found hours after she was hit by a vehicle.

Deputies believe the victim had been running in an area north of Lawrence on Thursday evening when she was hit by a vehicle.

According to the sheriff's office, a passerby called dispatch just after 3:30 a.m. Friday to report that they saw a person lying near E 1500 Road, just north of North Street. Deputies responded, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff's office said they have since determined that the victim was hit sometime about 6 p.m. Thursday and the driver left the scene.

The victim's name has not been released, but the sheriff's office said she is a 20-year-old woman from Lawrence.

Anyone who might have been in the area between 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Thursday is asked to call the sheriff's office at 785-393-5845 or call the Douglas County Crime Stoppers at (785) 843-8477.

The sheriff's office said deputies are following all leads, and have released a photo of a white or light-colored truck as part of the investigation.