N.J. 17-Year-Old Charged with Murder in N.J. Bike Crash that Killed 2 Teens: Police

A 17-year-old has been charged pinch first-degree execution successful relationship pinch nan deaths of 2 17-year-old girls who were fatally struck while riding an e-bike connected nan evening of Monday, Sept. 29, successful Cranford, N.J., authorities announced Wednesday.

The driver of nan conveyance that struck nan girls has been taken into custody by members of nan Union County Prosecutor’s Office and nan Cranford Police Department, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Cranford Police Chief Matthew Nazzaro said successful a associated connection Wednesday. Oct. 1.

The teen suspect, from neighboring Garwood, has not been identified.

Relatives identified nan victims arsenic Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, CBS New York reported. Relatives and friends of nan girls told Fox 5 and WABC that nan driver had been stalking 1 of nan teens.

"She made complaints and thing was done," said Tammy Carbajal, who nan outlet identified arsenic a friend. “It's conscionable a tragedy.”

Another neighbor told Fox 5 New York that officials had been made alert of nan alleged stalking.

"The schoolhouse was notified, for for illustration 3 months now," that neighbour alleged. Cranford Public Schools did not respond to an enquiry astir those claims.

PEOPLE besides reached retired to nan Union County Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating nan fatal crash, and to nan Cranford Police Department, connected Wednesday, Oct. 1, astir those allegations but did not perceive back.

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The girls were fatally struck astir 5:30 p.m. connected Monday while riding an physics motorcycle connected Burnside Avenue, Cranford constabulary and nan prosecutor's agency person said. Marie and Isabella were taken to area hospitals, wherever they were pronounced dead.

Hundreds gathered astatine a vigil to grant nan girls Tuesday evening, wherever Maria, who had a copy brother, was remembered arsenic nosy and kind, CBS New York reported. A friend of Isabella's said she was a talented vocalist and a joyousness to beryllium around.

In a connection to nan schoolhouse organization that was besides shared pinch PEOPLE, Cranford Superintendent Dr. Scott Rubin said, successful part: "While we respect nan privateness of nan families involved, we understand that this news will nary uncertainty effect our schoolhouse community. Please cognize that we are present to connection and supply comfortableness and support during this very difficult time."

A GoFundMe that has been launched to support nan families of some victims has raised much than $70,000 arsenic of early Wednesday afternoon.