'I thought I was going to die,' says 15-year-old victim of hit-and-run driver

FORT PIERCE — Jayda Radesha Murphy, 15, says her voice is softer now and her back hurts, but in the long-term, she will be OK.

Jayda spoke Friday afternoon from a home on North 13th Street, not far from where Fort Pierce police said a hit-and-run driver struck the teen Aug. 29, as she roller skated. 

“I thought I was going to die,” Jayda said. “I thought I was going to die just laying there on the street.” 

She said she was by herself at the time.

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

Jayda, who said she turns 16 in a few days, said she feels “good, but terrible,” noting her back hurts.

She said she was roller skating and remembers she almost was home. She turned around and a man had a phone to his ear.

“I was like, why are you on your phone, you should be busy driving,” Jayda said.

She said she doesn’t remember the pain, but remembers getting hit. She had a backpack on and grabbed the backpack and used it as a shield to slide on the street. 

Jayda, who said she has a brother and sister, said she screamed so people could hear her and she blacked out. 

According to police, she was flown to a hospital in West Palm Beach and was in critical condition. Police said she sustained a traumatic brain injury.

More: Mathew Kuruvanmackel, who died as he crossed U.S. 1 in Fort Pierce, liked to 'lighten everybody's life'

Police have said the hit-and-run vehicle is a pickup, possibly dark in color with front-end damage.

Jayda said after 16 days in the hospital, it feels good to be out.

She said she doesn't think she’ll be able to roller skate for a couple of months. She said she has scratches and fractured ribs.

Her mother, Jimmilia Tanelus, 38, said medical professionals have not said there would be any long-term issues.

She asked the driver accused of hitting her daughter to come forward.

“We all make mistakes in our life,” Tanelus said. “Take responsibility.” 

Those with information are asked to call Investigator Shayne Stokes at 772-302-4764 or Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers at 800-273-TIPS.

Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. He also covers strange, wild and weird Treasure Coast crimes in “Off The Beat.” Follow Will on Twitter @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-692-8936. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com

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