Woman killed while leaving Fresno church remembered

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Friends and loved ones remembered a Fresno woman at the church she was leaving when she was killed in a hit and run crash in Southeast Fresno.

Grieving family members, friends and the pastor at the Butler Church shared memories of 41-year-old Nicole Stewart at a vigil this evening and lit candles in her memory.

Stewart was killed on Wednesday night. They say she was leaving the church after bible class when she walked to the intersection of Winery and Butler. That's where she lost her life.

"We lost a great niece. Alicia lost a great daughter and she can never be replaced," said Phillip Garrett, Uncle.

Police believe the man who hit her and left her lying in the road. He is identified as 51-year-old Fermin Castellanos. Officers found him a few hours after the crash and arrested him.