Hours after asking the public for help locating an accident victim's family, the La Porte County Sheriff's Office says the family contacted them.

On Thursday morning, the La Porte County Sheriff's Office took the unusual step of releasing the victim's name before notifying next of kin because the family couldn't be located.

On Wednesday between 1:55 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Shawn Rybicki was struck by a vehicle on US421 near US30, according to the sheriff's office and coroner's office.

The vehicle fled the scene.

Deputies responded to the scene around 2:30 p.m. and found Rybicki on the side of the road.

Deputies are still attempting to piece together Rybicki's movements before her death.

If you had contact with Rybicki on Wednesday, please contact the sheriff's office.

The sheriff's office is asking any body shop or vehicle repair business that has a customer with unexplained damage to contact the detective bureau at 219-326-7700.