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Registered nurse among families who tried to help bicyclists killed in hit-and-run

ST. JOHNS, Fla. — When a hit-and-run driver crashed into two bicyclists on Racetrack Road, a St. Johns County mom was three cars behind.

A registered nurse, she said she immediately jumped out of the car.

Action News Jax's Ben Becker has a full report on new information on the investigation into the double deaths of two bicyclists who were killed in a deadly hit and run. WATCH HERE.

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“There was another man there that I believe was a paramedic or some kind of medical background,” Melissa McRae said. “You never know what they can hear, so we were just like, 'It's OK, it's OK, it's going to be OK.'”

She says other families called 911 while searching for blankets and any supplies to help the victims.

“What started out as three to four people turned out to be 15 people,” she said. “It was a massive amount of people in a short amount of time and people of all walks of life were trying to do whatever they could.”

When deputies got to the scene, witnesses were able to give them a description of the driver and car.

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“Everybody was saying: ‘He just left. He came here, and he just left. Why didn’t he stay? How could this have happened?’” McRae said.

The Sheriff’s Office said technology near the crash site and witness testimony helped them track down the vehicle.

Related: St. Johns County bicyclists killed after hit-and-run: Deputies find car, not suspect

It was seized when deputies served a search warrant, but the occupants of the residence where police found the vehicle were not at the property.

Deputies would not release any more details Sunday, saying the investigation is still very fluid. They have not announced any arrests.

SJSO says the victims' identities won't be released. They've asked for privacy under Marsy’s Law.

McRae says she wants them to know their loved ones weren’t alone.

“The number of people standing there trying to help their family members was pretty amazing,” she said.

Their deaths have raised questions about the safety of cyclists along the stretch of road.

Action News Jax has reached out to the county to see if any changes are planned to help prevent another tragedy.

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