Best friends Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas ride their bikes in front of Maria’s home.

The speed limit is only 25, so the girls feel at ease cycling on the street, when suddenly, a black Jeep Compass speeds down Burnside Avenue at nearly three times that limit without warning.

The driver never braked, running Maria and Isabella down, and then sped off without stopping to check on the two girls.

The driver in the hit-and-run doesn’t get far. Officers locate the suspect’s vehicle, a black 2021 Jeep Compass, disabled by the crash just a few blocks away on Lincoln Avenue, with a bicycle still stuck in the front bumper.

The 17-year-old boy behind the wheel is briefly held and then released to his family with 15 traffic citations, as the police continue their investigation into the crash.

Meanwhile, at the scene, onlookers call 911 and rush to the girls’ help; one is pronounced dead at the scene, and the other dies minutes later at a hospital.

The day following Maria and Isabella’s tragic deaths in the hit-and-run, officers arrest the 17-year-old driver, charging him as a minor with 2 counts of first-degree murder.

Union County prosecutors keep the driver’s identity private; however, traffic summons records reveal his name: Vincent P. Battiloro.

Battiloro is well-acquainted with law enforcement; his father is an officer with Chatham PD, and his uncle is the Chief of Westfield PD. The teen was also being investigated for harassing and stalking his classmate and ex-girlfriend Maria Niotis.

Joining Nancy Grace today:

Additional Guests

• Dr. Janie Lacy – Licensed Psychotherapist and CEO of Life Counseling Solutions, Author of “How To Heal From A Toxic Relationship: A Guide To Reclaiming Your Mental Health and Happiness;” Host of “The Resilient Professional” Podcast on YouTube; Instagram & Facebook: @JanieLacy
• John Pizzuro  – Former New Jersey State Police Investigator for 25 years (worked in multiple departments, including Homicide, Organized Crime, Cartels), Former Commander of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for the New Jersey State Police, and Currently the CEO of RAVEN, an organization focused on eliminating Child Exploitation and Trafficking

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas/GoFundMe]