Maria Niotis,Isabella Salas Obituary, Death; – One of the two 17-year-old students from Cranford High School who were riding e-bikes and tragically struck and killed on Monday was reportedly being stalked by the driver responsible for the hit-and-run, according to local residents.
“She made complaints and nothing was done,” stated her friend Tammy Carbajal during an interview with CBS-2 on Tuesday. “It’s just a tragedy.”
CBS-2 has identified the victims as Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas. Both girls were hit in their hometown on Burnside Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. and were subsequently airlifted to nearby hospitals, as reported by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. Unfortunately, they were later pronounced dead. The Cranford community held a candlelight vigil on Burnside Avenue on Tuesday night to honor their memory.
Another neighbor informed Fox 5 New York that authorities had been made aware of the alleged stalking incident.
“The police were notified,” the unnamed woman remarked during an on-camera interview with the television station.
“The school was notified, for like three months now.”
A different resident mentioned that the suspect had been seen in the vicinity numerous times. “He’s been parked outside her house for three months now,” the neighbor noted. “He was never stopped.”
A neighbor also told WABC-7 that the girls were returning home from a school event when they were struck.
The identity of the driver of the black Jeep that hit them has not yet been disclosed. The driver was located shortly after the incident and taken into custody by officers from the Cranford and Garwood police departments on Monday evening, according to the prosecutor’s office. Authorities have not confirmed whether he remains in custody.
Investigators are seeking any witnesses or video footage of the Jeep before or after the collision, as stated by authorities. Individuals providing information to the prosecutor’s online and phone tips line may be eligible for a reward of up to $10,000 if their tip leads to an arrest and indictment.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Detective Alex Lanza at 908-
