The 17-year-old driver accused of hitting and killing two girls as they rode an e-bike in Cranford earlier this week has been identified in a series of municipal citations linked to the crash.
At least 15 tickets were issued to Vincent P. Battiloro, 17, of Garwood, following Monday’s crash on Burnside Avenue, according to New Jersey’s municipal court records.
They include citations for leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, careless driving and speeding. He also received summonses for driving without a license, a registration and an insurance card, records show.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday that murder charges had been filed against a 17-year-old from Garwood, but did not name the teen.
Prosecutors said the driver deliberately hit and killed two 17-year-old Cranford students, identified by family and friends as Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis.
Criminal court proceedings involving juveniles are handled in family court, which is closed to the public, unless the case is waived up to be tried as an adult.
The details on the publicly-available municipal citations issued to Battiloro match the date, time, location and type of vehicle, a black Jeep, involved in the crash.
Battiloro will turn 18 early next month, according to the birthdate listed on the tickets.
Battiloro’s family did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Authorities have not said if the teen has a lawyer.
The girls were struck around 5:30 p.m. near Burnside Avenue, authorities said. Both later died of their injuries.
The Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Cranford police also did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the traffic citations.
Friends, family and neighbors alleged Battiloro had been stalking Maria for months.
In a statement issued to Fox 5 on Wednesday night, the families accused Battiloro of planning the attack.
“It is now vital that the truth be shared: this was not an e-bike accident, and it was not a hit-and-run,” the statement said. “This was murder in the first degree.”
The families’ statement went on to call the driver “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.”
“He is not insane, he is competent and medicated,” the statement added.
Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro said in a statement Wednesday that the person accused of killing the two teens is related to him, but is not his son or a member of his immediate family.
Vincent P. Battiloro is the police chief’s nephew, according to online obituaries.
In his lengthy statement, the police chief said he condemned the actions of the family member charged in the incident and demanded that he face the consequences of his alleged actions through the legal system.
“My neighborhood feels violated and we are grieving,” said Christopher Battiloro, who lives in Cranford. “I am writing this to let you know that I stand with you – my Cranford friends and neighbors – and that I grieve with you.”
The chief added that he was “shocked, stunned, and so overwhelmingly distressed beyond belief by the horrific loss of two young ladies.”
In New Jersey, juveniles aged 15 or older can be tried as adults if a prosecutor files a waiver motion and the court finds probable cause for serious offenses like homicide, carjacking or aggravated sexual assault.
Visitation for Maria will be held Thursday night with a service scheduled for Friday, both at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Union.
Visitation for Isabella will take place Saturday at Dooley Funeral Home in Cranford with a graveside service scheduled for Monday at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.
Research editor Vinessa Erminio contributed to this report.
Editor’s Note: NJ Advance Media does not typically report the names of juveniles charged with crimes. An exception has been made based on the severity of the charges in this case.
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