‘I was mad’: 12-year-old brother of Fort Pierce girl injured in hit-and-run crash explains what happened
FORT PIERCE, Fla. —
Police in Fort Pierce are investigating a hit-and-run that injured 8-year-old Serenity Jenkins over the weekend at the intersection of North 25th Street and Avenue M.
Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby businesses to gather more information about the incident.
“I just think it’s sad overall because it’s a little girl. I mean, you have to have some type of humanity not to just drive away and not make sure she’s OK; that’s somebody’s child,” said a woman who works near the intersection where the crash occurred.
Serenity’s 12-year-old brother, Malachi Jenkins, said he was with her when the crash happened.
“I was mad,” Malachi said.
He described the moments after the crash, saying, “She was on the ground, and her legs were like this, one like that, and that’s when people ran up and were checking on her, and that’s when she started crying, and then she dozed off for a little bit and then woke back up.”
Malachi said the driver initially offered to take them home but fled the scene when others approached.
“But then when he saw the other people coming and looked at Serenity, he just drove off fast,” Malachi said.
Police confirmed that Serenity sustained a fractured femur in the crash and are continuing their investigation.
“We have now an individual out in our community that has not been held accountable for this as of yet,” police said.
Authorities believe the driver is a man between the ages of 20 and 30 years old, driving an early 2000s gold Mercedes-Benz that may have damage to the driver’s side.
“I can tell you that the police department is actively working this case. We have different disciplines within the police department looking into this to ensure that we get this person and hold this person accountable for what actually occurred that day,” police said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Fort Pierce detectives.
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