ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. -- A woman who was beaten and attacked was found locked in the trunk of her car shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday in West Augustine, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives with the sheriff’s office special victims unit have begun investigating the abduction and beating of a 48-year-old Flagler County woman.

According to the sheriff's office, a man and woman were walking in the area of Chapin and North St. Johns streets when they passed the victim's vehicle and heard the woman yelling and banging on the inside of the trunk.

The witnesses were able to pry open the trunk and get the victim out before they called the authorities.

Investigators said the victim was fortunate to have been found early in the morning because if she were left in the hot trunk during the sweltering daytime hours, she might not have survived.

St. Johns County deputies combed the surrounding neighborhood, hoping to discover answers in what the called a heinous crime.

"(She) took a pretty good physical assault, and we also learned from her that she was also sexually assaulted," said Sgt. Chuck Mulligan.

The victim, who resides in Palm Coast, told deputies that she was driving around when she got lost and stopped to ask a man for directions. The sheriff's office said that's when the victim was allegedly beaten and sexually assaulted, and then placed in the trunk of her car.

The attacker drove around before stopping the vehicle in the area of Chapin and North St. Johns streets, according to the sheriff's office.

The victim told deputies that she had been in the trunk for about five hours before being heard.

Residents like Melvin Thomas said they are very concerned about what happened near their homes.

"It can happen anywhere. People think it doesn't happen to them, but stuff like this can happen anywhere," Thomas said. "Something like -- that's really bad. It could have been my sister, you know. I hope they find him."

"This is an individual who committed a heinous act on another individual and we want to put him in jail," Mulligan said.

The victim was transported to Flagler Hospital for treatment. Offices said they have not been able to conduct an in-depth interview with the victim and they do not have a working suspect description.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area where the attack took place or has information that could help investigators is asked to call the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.