Teen girl released from hospital; police still looking for hit-and-run driver

FORT PIERCE— A 15-year-old girl who was involved in a hit-and-run in August was released from the hospital Tuesday night.

Fort Pierce Police Department officers said they are still searching for the person who crashed into the teen.

Jayda Murphy, of Fort Pierce, was roller skating on Aug. 29, when she was hit by a  pickup. The girl was skating on a grassy area along the sidewalk at South 17th Street and Emerald Terrace in Fort Pierce. The driver fled in the truck.

Officers said the truck was possibly dark-colored.

Investigators said they believe Murphy had her back to the vehicle when she was hit. Jayda was with her grandmother when the crash occurred.

Jayda is in 10th grade at the Pace Center for Girls in Fort Pierce and has a 5-year-old brother.

More: Jayda Murphy, 15, in medically induced coma after hit-run crash skating at grandmother's house

More: FHP looking for person and vehicle involved in fatal crash on Interstate 95

Jayda was flown to Palm Beach Children’s Hospital in West Palm Beach with a traumatic brain injury and internal injuries. She remained in critical condition in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit until Sept. 8.

Jayda Murphy’s mother Jimmilia Taneles asked the driver who hit her daughter to “just do the right thing and come forward” during a press conference in August.

Anyone with information is asked to call Traffic Homicide Investigator Shayne Stokes at 772-302-4764 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS (8477), or online at TCWatch.org. Anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers leading to an arrest can result in a cash reward for the tipster.

Sara Marino is a TCPalm breaking news reporter  covering Martin County. You can reach Sara on Twitter @saradmarino or email her at Sara.Marino@tcpalm.com. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest breaking news.