Family members of Cranford teens refer to fatal collision as 'murder'

The families of two teenage girls tragically killed in Cranford are denouncing the incident as intentional murder rather than an accident. Maria and Isabella, both 17, were fatally struck by a 17-year-old driver while riding their bikes on Burnside Avenue. The driver has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The families released a statement describing the driver as a calculated and deliberate individual who had allegedly been planning this attack for months. The devastating crash occurred just after 5:30 p.m. on Monday, resulting in the teens being thrown over 100 feet by a black Jeep Compass SUV. The outrage has been fuelled by claims from neighbors that the driver had been stalking one of the victims for months, prompting questions as to why previous warnings about his behavior were not acted upon. The families are determined to ensure that the case is not dismissed as an accident and have asked for continued media coverage to honor Maria and Isabella's memory. The Union County Prosecutor's Office is conducting an ongoing investigation, with the suspect's name yet to be publically released. Additionally, rumors circulating online about the suspect's relation to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro have been dispelled by Battiloro himself, who asserts that the accused is not his son or a part of his immediate family. A public statement from the families is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 2, and will be live-streamed by FOX 5 NY.