A Kirkland woman found dead in her bedroom Saturday morning may have died from vehicle-related injuries the previous night.

Police said at about 1:45 a.m. the daughter of Crystal Witte, 45, found her mother in a Kirkland alley between North Third Street and North Fourth Street, a block and a half from her home. She then called Witte’s husband.

The family had been taking turns searching for Witte, said DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott.

Seeing no immediate signs of injury, family members thought Witte had passed out from drinking too much alcohol and brought her back home, police said.

Scott confirmed Witte had been drinking that night.

Kirkland and DeKalb County Sheriff’s police responded to the home after Witte failed to respond the next morning.

She was pronounced dead at the scene in her room at 9:10 a.m. by the DeKalb County Coroner’s Office.

The Coroner’s Office and Kirkland and County police are now investigating the death.

Police said preliminary autopsy results indicate that Witte’s death was caused by internal injuries, possibly from being struck or run over by a moving vehicle.

Scott said a driver may not have noticed Witte, who was wearing dark clothing and found in an unlit, unpaved alley.

“What we need to do is find [the driver] and talk to them and find out what they know or remember from that night,” Scott said. “It’s possible they did not realize she was there.”

Scott said the family has been cooperative and supportive in the investigation, and where unaware Witte had injuries.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office at 895-2155 or Crime Stoppers at 895-3272.