Fort Lauderdale Police are investigating after a teenage girl was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
It happened just before 9 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of Northwest 15th Avenue.
Neighbors and relatives have identified the victim as 15-year-old Jaliah Cross, and said she was a student at Dillard High School. They told NBC 6 that Cross lived in the area, and was crossing the street when a newer model gray Chevy Camaro hit her, then drove off.
A neighbor said the hit-and-run driver left Cross in the middle of the road and that the girl was still breathing, but very slowly. Police said the teen was taken to Broward Health Medical Center where she later died.
Multiple neighbors heard the crash, and saw the car speed off.
"Didn't even try to stop," said Cross' mother, Felissa Williams, through tears. "I mean, you hit somebody and kept going. That was my baby, 15-years-old."
Several neighbors told NBC 6 that speeding has been a major problem along the stretch of Northwest 15th Avenue where Cross was fatally hit. Heartbroken neighbors, family and friends are begging whoever hit Cross to turn themselves in.
"That hurts me very bad, to know that someone hurt and killed one of my closest friends," a friend of the teen told NBC 6. "If you know you did it, you should just come up and confess."
"Please, my baby needs to rest in peace. You need to turn yourself in," said Williams.
Family and friends gathered on Tuesday evening for a vigil to remember Cross. They also pled for the driver to come forward.
Police haven't released any further details about the crash or a possible vehicle description.
Local
Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.
