SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. — Former "American Idol" contestant Alexis Cohen died early Saturday morning in New Jersey after being struck by a car in an apparent hit-and-run collision.

Cohen first auditioned for "Idol" in August 2007. Her appearance on the show's seventh season later aired in January 2008, with a video of her angry rant after being rejected quickly going viral.

"I march to the beat of a different drummer," Cohen said before her audition went south, citing Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Pat Benetar among her influences.

Cohen's audition was coined as "possessed" by Simon Cowell, with fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul also passing on her advancing in the singing competition.

During her exit, Cohen called Cowell "egotistical" and went on a profanity-laced tirade.

"How dare he," she fumed at Cowell during her rant. "How dare a person mock someone like that."

The Allentown, Pa. resident also auditioned for the eighth season of the hit Fox reality show, but once again failed to advance.

Cohen was 25 at the time of her death.