A Jacksonville family seeks answers months after Savana Pendarvis died in a hit-and-run crash. Police say the suspect, Alexander Rivera-Russo, remains at large.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville family is still searching for answers months after a deadly hit-and-run crash took the life of 27-year-old Savana Pendarvis.

Police say the suspect, 23-year-old Alexander Rivera-Russo, left the scene after a fiery crash along University Boulevard South on January 2 and has not been found.

Pendarvis had just graduated from college, with dreams of starting a career in human resources.

Her best friend Tatiana Saleh says she was caring, with a bright and infectious smile.

“She was as close to a perfect human being as anyone of us will ever get to meet, and if you knew her, you were very lucky,” Tatiana Saleh.

Now, months later, Saleh says she still holds onto their final conversation.

“The night before, she had actually called me. It was kind of unusual for her to call late at night, especially if it wasn’t for something urgent, but she just happened to be home from a thrift hall and wanted to show me what she had got,” said Saleh.

“Because I live in Gainesville, it’s like I never got closure. It feels like we just had a conversation, and then we’re supposed to pick back up the next day. Instead, it’s just like mid-sentence, our whole friendship is gone,” said Saleh.

Investigators say Rivera-Russo was speeding when he crashed into Pendarvis’ car, causing a fiery wreck that killed her. Police say he then walked away from the scene.

“You owe her the respect of showing up and owning what you did because she was the kind of person that would have done that,” Saleh says regarding Rivera-Russo. “Her family deserves to close this chapter.”

Now, her friends and family are still searching for answers and asking for accountability.

“Please turn yourself in,” Saleh says. “You owe her the respect of showing up and owning what you did because she was the kind of person who would have done that. Her family deserves to close this chapter.”

Police say they are continuing to search for Rivera-Russo. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers.