Tragedy Strikes New Jersey Community: Two Teens Lost in Fatal Hit-and-Run
A quiet New Jersey community has been left reeling after a devastating hit-and-run claimed the lives of two 17-year-old girls, Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis. The incident occurred on Monday, September 29, in Cranford, New Jersey, when the teens were riding an electric bike together around 5:26 p.m. According to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, a 17-year-old male allegedly struck them with a 2021 black Jeep Compass before fleeing the scene. The aftermath was captured in harrowing 911 calls, with witnesses describing a black SUV that “flew down the road and hit people,” leaving victims unresponsive on the pavement. “There’s a girl on the road and there’s a car! Oh my god, please hurry!” one caller frantically told dispatchers. Others reported that the situation was “really bad,” with one victim trapped beneath a vehicle and neither girl showing signs of consciousness. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, both girls were pronounced dead shortly after the incident, sending shockwaves through their families and the broader community.
The investigation moved quickly following the tragedy, though questions have emerged about the handling of the case in its initial stages. Lauren Farinas, Public Information Officer for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, confirmed that the suspect was initially detained and questioned by law enforcement officers shortly after the incident, but was subsequently released to his father’s custody pending further investigation. This decision has raised concerns among the victims’ families, particularly in light of later revelations. It wasn’t until Wednesday morning, October 1, that authorities formally arrested the teenager, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder along with multiple traffic violations. The severity of the charges suggests investigators believe there was intent behind what initially appeared to be a traffic incident, transforming the case from a tragic accident to an alleged deliberate act of violence.
The case took an even more disturbing turn when Maria Niotis’s mother, Foulla Niotis, came forward with allegations that the suspect had been stalking her daughter prior to the incident, and that local authorities had failed to take appropriate action when the family reported these concerns. “They should have done a lot. They didn’t do anything,” Mrs. Niotis said of local law enforcement’s response to their reports. “They didn’t do anything to help my baby.” Her grief-stricken testimony hints at a tragedy that potentially could have been prevented with proper intervention. According to Mrs. Niotis, the suspect “planned” the attack and believed he was “untouchable” because he allegedly had relatives working in law enforcement. This claim adds another layer of complexity to a case already fraught with emotion and raises serious questions about potential missed warning signs.
Witness accounts from the scene paint a picture of chaos and horror in the aftermath of the collision. Multiple 911 callers described the suspect’s vehicle speeding away from the scene “toward the downtown area,” with one witness noting that the black SUV “was flying” down the road. Another caller expressed concern that the vehicle involved might “catch fire,” indicating the violent nature of the impact. These real-time accounts from bystanders who rushed to help the victims provide critical context for understanding the immediate aftermath of the incident and support prosecutors’ assertion that this was not a typical traffic accident. The collective shock expressed by witnesses underscores how unexpected and violent the event was, disrupting an otherwise ordinary afternoon in this New Jersey community.
Further details about the case have emerged through legal representatives for the victims’ families. An attorney has alleged that the suspect may have “swatted” one of the victim’s homes weeks before the deadly incident, suggesting a pattern of threatening behavior that preceded the fatal hit-and-run. “Swatting” refers to making false reports to emergency services to prompt a large police response at someone’s address—a dangerous form of harassment that has led to injuries and deaths in other cases. Family members have gone even further, claiming the teen murder suspect had been “plotting” the deadly hit-and-run for months before taking action. These allegations, if proven true, would support the first-degree murder charges, which require premeditation and intent, rather than charges typically associated with fatal traffic accidents.
As the case progresses through the justice system, the community continues to mourn the loss of two young lives cut tragically short. The suspect remains in custody, though the prosecutor’s office has not yet indicated whether they intend to try him as an adult—a critical decision that would significantly impact potential sentencing if he is convicted. For now, Foulla Niotis’s plea resonates with the community’s collective grief and demand for accountability: “I want justice for Maria and Isabella. That’s what I want.” The case has sparked difficult conversations about teen violence, the responsibilities of law enforcement when warning signs appear, and how communities can better protect vulnerable young people. As investigators continue piecing together exactly what happened that September afternoon in Cranford, two families are left to navigate an unimaginable loss, seeking answers that may never fully explain how a ride on an electric bike ended in such devastating circumstances.
