NJ Teen Girls Killed by Alleged Stalker in Jeep After Ignored Complaints

Question

Two teenage girls were mowed down and killed Monday in leafy Cranford, New Jersey, by a hit-and-run driver who had allegedly been stalking one of them.

The two 17-year-old Cranford High School students, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, were riding on an ebike together around 5:30 p.m. when a black 2021 Jeep with tinted windows rammed into them, according to authorities and local reports.

Both girls later died at the hospital.

Answer 1

This statement regarding the two New Jersey girls is accurate. On September 29, 2025, two 17-year-old Cranford High School students, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, were tragically killed while riding an e-bike when a black 2021 Jeep struck them at around 5:30 p.m. Both girls later died at the hospital. The suspect, identified as Vincent P. Battiloro, was driving approximately 70 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to court records, and was arrested on October 1 on two counts of first-degree murder. Officials noted that prior to the crash, Battiloro had expressed hostility toward Niotis and her family in livestreams, claimed false allegations had led to his school suspension, and engaged in harassing behavior, including ordering pizzas to their home with the message, “Have fun with your pizza, you dips---” (People). Friends and family reported that Niotis had filed a restraining order against him due to his threatening behavior. CBS News highlights community concerns, quoting a friend, “The adults in this town failed her, in this world failed her. This is just another example that we don't pay attention until it's too late.” The families describe the incident as intentional, emphasizing that it was not an accident or a simple hit-and-run. Overall, this tragedy shows how stalking, online harassment, and a lack of early action can lead to devastating consequences. It’s a reminder that even small warning signs should be taken seriously, because paying attention early on can save lives.

These are the articles found: 

https://people.com/cranford-nj-teen-hit-and-run-ebike-chilling-livestream-11825096. 

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/isabella-salas-wake-cranford-new-jersey-hit-and-run/. 

Comments

You did a great job laying out the facts and showing how serious this case was. I think it’s also worth pointing out how social media played a big role here. The suspect’s livestreams and online harassment weren’t just side details as they show how threats and stalking can move from digital spaces to real life violence. Maybe it’s something schools and police should pay closer attention too going forward.

Answer 2

This claim is true. Cranford residents, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, aged 17, were killed on September 29th, 2025 after being hit by a speeding car. The suspected driver who hit the two girls was Vincent Battiloro, a 17 year old student who attended school with Niotis. Before the crash, it was reported that Niotis had been frequently bothered and harassed by Battiloro, with unanswered complaints being made against him by Niotis to their school and the Cranford Police. During the night of the crash, Battiloro was given 14 citations which were reportedly connected to the crash, according to two anonymous sources (NY Times). That same night, Battiloro talked about the hit and run on a livestream, quoting: "'There has been a lot of misinformation going on over the internet. But I will say this: I wish my sincerest condolences to those girls, lost in that tragic accident'" (NY Times). According to a Fox 5 New York article, both families of Niotis and Salas released a statement about the situation saying that Battiloro was "'a coward of a man, who had been plotting this attack against Maria for months, carried out this horrific act, taking not only her life but also Isabella's'" (Fox 5 New York). The Cranford community has come together in the past few weeks to honor the two girls, with visitation and wakes being held for both in Cranford and the neighboring town, Westfield (NJ.com). 

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/nyregion/hit-and-run-deaths-girls-new-jersey.html

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/crandford-teens-family-speaks

https://www.nj.com/union/2025/10/driver-17-accused-of-killing-2-nj-girls-identified-on-15-tickets-tied-to-crash.html

Comments

I found this response to be incredibly informative while also remaining respectful and sensitive to the victims and families of this tragedy.  I liked how you used different sources and kept it very well organized.  The way in which this was written showed respect as well as focus on accountability.