Teenager Charged with Murder in Hit-and-Run Case to be Tried as Adult

Vincent Battiloro, an 18-year-old from Garwood, New Jersey, has been publicly identified as the suspect in a hit-and-run incident that resulted in the deaths of two 17-year-old girls, Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis. The Union County Prosecutor's Office announced on June 27, 2026, that Battiloro will be tried as an adult after his case was transferred from juvenile court. The alleged incident occurred on September 29, 2025, when Battiloro reportedly struck the victims while they were riding an electric bike in Cranford. Both girls were taken to local hospitals but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Battiloro faces two counts of first-degree murder and multiple traffic offenses. He was initially detained for questioning after the incident but was released and later arrested on October 1, 2025. The investigation included 911 calls from witnesses who described the scene and reported the vehicle involved as a black Jeep Compass.