Anthony Yates
A driver collided with an E-Bike in an alleged hit-and-run incident, which claimed the lives of both riders. Their relatives reportedly claim the driver knew them.
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What happened: The Union County Prosecutors’ Office shared details about the incident in a press release. The crash occurred on September 29 at around 5:26 PM.
- The Cranford Police Department responded to Burnside Avenue after receiving reports about a motorist striking two juveniles riding an E-Bike. Officers reportedly located the riders, and emergency services transported them to local hospitals. Both succumbed to their injuries.
- Per the press release, authorities charged a 17-year-old male from Garwood on October 1. He faces two charges of first-degree murder “in connection with the motor vehicle crash.” The Prosecutors’ Office does not name the suspect or victims, but local news sources reveal their identities, suggesting they knew each other.
- A report by CBS News names the victims as Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17 years old. Relatives and friends reportedly said one of the girls had a restraining order against the driver after he allegedly stalked her.
- A friend of one of the victims claimed, “She made complaints, and nothing was done. It’s just a tragedy.”
The Suspect Allegedly Stalked One Of The Girls For Months Before The Incident
According to a report by FOX 5, residents who lived nearby claim the suspect stalked one of the victims for months. They reportedly did so online and in person.
- One neighbor reportedly told the outlet, “He’s been parked outside her house for three months now. He was never stopped.” Per My Central Jersey, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said the driver was taken into custody following a “comprehensive and extensive investigation.”
- The outlet notes it remains unclear if authorities will sentence the driver as a teen or push to have them tried as an adult.
Another deadly crash: Authorities sentenced an HGV driver to 10 years in prison last month. He reportedly drove his vehicle into the back of a car stopped in traffic, fatally injuring the driver.
- The HGV operator, Neil Platt, told authorities he “never touched his phone” before the crash. However, police claim he was scrolling on “a number of social media applications” moments earlier.
- Investigators determined that Platt was traveling at 54 MPH before he struck the car. He reportedly activated his brakes just 35 meters before the collision.
