Teenager from New Jersey charged with first-degree murder in Cranford hit-and-run that resulted in 2 deaths.
A 17-year-old teenager from Garwood, New Jersey has been charged with two counts of first degree murder following a tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the deaths of two teenage girls. The collision occurred just before 5:30 p.m. on Monday on Burnside Avenue. The speed limit in the residential area is 25 mph. A makeshift memorial now stands at the site with flowers, candles, and balloons as the community calls for justice for Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, the two 17-year-old victims. The young girls were riding an e-bike when a black SUV struck and killed them, with the driver fleeing the scene before abandoning the vehicle. The driver was apprehended by authorities later that evening. The suspect was allegedly known to the victims, with reports of a restraining order being filed against him for stalking one of the girls. The Union County prosecutor's office is seeking surveillance footage from nearby residents that may show a 2021 black Jeep Compass with tinted windows around the time of the collision. A vigil was held by friends and family to remember Niotis and Salas, with loved ones describing the girls as vibrant and talented individuals whose lives were tragically cut short. The families have visited the memorial multiple times, appreciating the support from the community during their time of immense grief.
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