CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A community came together Saturday night to remember a neighbor and friend who was killed while she was crossing an area interstate.

Neighbors at the Kingspark Apartment Community held a vigil in Mary Richardson’s honor. They also hoped to remind neighbors how dangerous it is to walk along interstates.

The 59-year-old was killed while she was crossing John Belk Freeway early Monday. Police said the cab drive who accidentally hit Richardson and left the scene will likely not face charges.

Police said they don’t know why Richardson was walking on Interstate 277 about 40 minutes after she was released from the Mecklenburg County jail. She was placed there after being arrested just after 1 a.m. on a simple assault charge.

The alleged victim lives on Linkwood Place, which is in the direction Richardson was walking.

He told Eyewitness News her sport utility vehicle is still parked near his home.

Shortly before 5 a.m., Richardson was struck on the interstate loop near Bank of America Stadium. Detectives said workers at the Diamond Cab Company on Atando Road heard about the crash on the news, and because police were looking for a green Ford Windstar taxi seen leaving the scene, the cab company owner asked the drivers if they hit anything.

Police said a driver admitted he did hit something and owner, Nazakat Khan, called police. Two Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detectives interviewed the driver at the north Charlotte office but did not arrest him.

Police said the cab driver did not know that he hit a person because it was dark and raining.

They said he told them he thought he hit a construction barrel or pole. He said he got out of the cab, looked around, didn’t see anything and then drove away. The driver went back to the office and then went out on another run, despite the dented front fender and shatter portion of the windshield, before speaking with the cab company owner.

Detectives said the driver’s story is consistent with witness accounts. They have already discussed the case with the Mecklenburg County District Attorney.

“He and I both agreed at this point our best course of action is for me to get all the facts, present those facts to the district attorney, and he and I will review the findings of everything at that point and then determine if we’re going to make any criminal charges,” said Detective Charlie Brown.

Brown said he doesn’t believe any charges will be filed because the driver acted correctly.

Richardson’s neighbors on Kingsparks Drive said the morning’s events are shocking because the woman was well-liked.

“It does surprise me because I never saw Ms. Mary do anything illegal. Ms. Mary is just a good person,” said Rejeano Banks.