Another pedestrian was killed by a car Monday morning in Midtown — the fifth pedestrian fatality on city streets since early Sunday morning. Police say hit-and-run drivers were responsible for three of the deaths. NY1's Michael Herzenberg has the story.

A black livery cab turned onto Madison Avenue from 36th Street during the morning rush and hit a 77-year-old woman behind the phone booths. She was pinned underneath the car and passersby rushed to help.

"She was already under the car and we lift the car up I think that was the best way to save her," said one man who tried to help.

It was about 8:30 Monday morning, and about ten people tipped the sedan on its side.

Carol Dauplaise, the victim, owned a jewelry store nearby.  NY1 spoke with one of her employees.

"She had a lot of heart," said Zoe Cruz, who worked for Dauplaise. "She always helped. Especially me, she always helped me, so it's like a lost a mother."

Dauplaise is one of five people killed by vehicles in a 29-hour period that began early Sunday.

Sunday night a Ford Escape tried to pass two double-parked cars near McGraw Avenue and Unionport Road, fatally striking a 33-year-old pedestrian.

The driver stayed on the scene.

But hit and run drivers were blamed for three of the five deaths, including 63-year-old Jose Contreras killed in the Parkchester section of the Bronx.

"My uncle was like my father, you know?" said Miguel Mejia, Contreras' nephew. "He called me every day in the morning, I am mechanic, he needs something in your truck, he called me everyday."

Mayor Bill de Blasio has vowed to eliminate traffic deaths under his Vision Zero program and the number of deadly traffic crashes involving pedestrians fell last year for the second year in a row.

But the pedestrian advocacy group Transportation Alternatives calls the number of deadly hit and run-crashes "an epidemic."

"I think the weekend really emphasizes the need for the city and the state to work together to come up with an action plan to combat hit and run crashes," said Deputy Director Transportation Alternatives Caroline Samponaro.

Despite the uptick this weekend, the city appears in the same range of pedestrian fatalities as last year — which reached a record low.

The DOT says, as of Sunday, there were 21 pedestrian fatalities this year.

For the same timeframe in 2015, there were 20.