POLICE were today hunting a hit-and-run driver who killed a woman in Sheffield.
The woman, aged 54, who has not yet been named by police, had just got out of a black cab in Parson Cross and was crossing the road when she was hit by a silver saloon car.
The driver failed to stop, and instead sped off towards Shiregreen.
The woman - who had been on a night out in the city centre and was picked up with three friends outside the Walkabout pub on West Street - was taken to the Northern General Hospital but died shortly afterwards.The collision happened in the early hours yesterday at the junction of Deerlands Avenue and Deerlands Close.
Today a police accident board, chained to a lamppost, marked the spot where the tragedy took place.
Shocked locals spoke of their horror at learning of the fatal collision.
Sheila Procter, of Deerlands Close, said: "Everyone has been talking about it but no-one knows seems to know who the lady was. It's a terrible thing to happen.
"I heard she was getting out of a taxi after a night out on the town."
Another woman, also from Deerlands Close but who did not want to be named, said she had been out in town herself and had only just arrived home when the woman was killed.
"I must have got home just before it happened," she said. "It's absolutely terrible."
And a neighbour who saw the aftermath of the tragedy said: "I didn't hear anything but I saw lots of lights flashing so I looked out of the window and saw loads of police.
"Their lights lit up the whole house."
Police say the car which mowed the woman down is likely to have been damaged at the front.
The taxi driver who dropped the woman off - an Asian man aged 30 to 40 with a beard - also left the scene. Police believe he was unaware his passenger had been run over when he drove away.
Inspector Paul Taylor today appealed for the taxi driver to come forward. "We firmly believe he has no idea the collision occurred, but we would like to speak to him," he said.
Witnesses, or anyone with information about the collision, at around 2.20am on Sunday, are urged to contact South Yorkshire Police witness line on 0114 220 2970.
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