The families of two Cranford High School students who died in a vehicle crash this week have issued a scathing statement condemning the 17-year-old driver as “a coward of a man” and accusing him of committing “murder in the first degree.”
The incident occurred on Monday on Burnside Avenue when a black Jeep Compass SUV struck 17-year-olds Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, throwing them more than 100 feet. Both girls later died from their injuries.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that it had charged a 17-year-old Garwood resident with murder, but did not release a name. Court records reviewed by NJ.com suggest the suspect is Vincent P. Battiloro, reportedly the nephew of Westfield police chief Christopher Battiloro.
In their statement to Fox 5, the victims’ families insisted that early reports were inaccurate. “It is now vital that the truth be shared: this was not an e-bike accident, and it was not a hit-and-run,” they said. “This was murder in the first degree.”
The families accused the suspect of targeting one of the victims in the months leading up to the crash. “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,” they wrote.
They dismissed any claim that the driver was unstable. “He is not insane; he is competent and medicated,” the family said. Neighbors supported the allegations of stalking. Residents told reporters that Battiloro had parked outside Maria’s home, appeared at her school, and repeatedly contacted her online in the months before the crash.
Following the collision, NJ.com reported that at least 15 traffic tickets were issued to the teen, including citations for reckless and careless driving, speeding, and leaving the scene. He also received summonses for driving without a license, registration, or proof of insurance.
The case drew further attention after the Daily Mail reported on a YouTube live stream linked to Battiloro. During the broadcast, the teen appeared to reference the crash without naming himself. “I need to explain some things that have happened in the last few days, and I’m not going to talk much about it, but, in a neighboring town, unfortunately, two girls were killed in a hit-and-run crash,” he told viewers.
“It is an absolutely unfortunate situation, and there’s more to the story that you’re not getting, but when the time comes, I will explain it in greater detail,” he added. “I’m not authorized to talk about the whole thing. I’m not gonna give you any more information.” The investigation remains ongoing as the community mourns the loss of the two teenagers.