A hit-and-run that killed a Farmingville man has prompted the introduction of bill in the state Senate that would increase the jail time and penalties for leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

"We started the petition, and we did our research and our legwork to see what we can do," said Caitlin McNeil. She and her friends knew they had to do something after their best friend, 25-year-old Nicholas Puzio, killed in an alleged hit-and-run.

Police say Puzio was struck while crossing Medford Avenue in Patchogue on March 12 by 19-year-old Elian Jurado-Zavala, of Bay Shore. Detectives say Zavala did not stop.

He was arrested the next day after police said at least a dozen surveillance videos showed him fleeing the scene. They say another vehicle also hit Puzio and the driver just kept going.

Puzio's friends started to collect signatures for a petition to increase the penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a deadly accident. It received more than 7,800 signatures as of Saturday. They hope to get even more at an event they held Saturday in Puzio's honor.

"We're hoping people will think twice... because you can save somebody if you just stopped," said Puzio's friend, Nicolette Barbera.

That petition also led to state Sen. Dean Murray to introduce Nick's Law which aims to increase jail time and fines for anyone who leaves the scene of a fatal accident. If passed, the law would change it from a class D felony to a class B felony and it would raise the fines from $5,000 to $30,000.

"We're going to do everything we can. We're going to try and get bipartisan support to try and push this through. It needs to get done," Murray said.

The event was not just about getting information out about Nick's Law -- friends and family wanted to come together to remember Puzio and celebrate his life.

"Nick has touched so many people's lives and changed so many people for the better. He was really the light in every room you would walk into," said friend Shaun McNeil.

Puzio's family and friends say they are hoping to get justice.

"The fact that we're making so much noise about this that it's not going to go unnoticed, he'll never be forgotten," said friend Vincent Wright.

If you would like more information on the petition, follow this link. For more on Nick's Law, click here.