The family of two teenage girls who lost their lives in a collision with an e-bike in New Jersey on Wednesday night is alleging that the incident was no mere accident. They assert that the 17-year-old driver had been planning the attack for months and specifically aimed at one of the girls, Maria Niotis.
Maria and her friend Isabella Salas were struck by the e-bike around 5:30 PM on September 30, 2025. Refuting the narrative that it was just an accident, the family conveyed their message to Fox 5, saying, “It wasn’t an e-bike accident, it wasn’t a hit and run.”
The young driver, not publicly identified but classified as a minor by Union County prosecutors, now faces two counts of first-degree murder.
It seems the driver has some sort of connection to Christopher Batillolo, the police chief of a nearby town, Westfield.
The family expressed their anguish, stating, “The cowardly man who had been plotting this attack on Maria for months did his horrifying acts and took away not only her life but Isabella’s as well.”
Amid the tragedy, memorials with flowers, candles, and photos have sprung up along Burnside Avenue in Cranford, New Jersey, serving as a poignant reminder of the loss.
A spokesperson for the Union County Prosecutor’s Office mentioned that details regarding the case are scarce since it involves juvenile charges. As of now, the timing for the driver’s court appearance remains uncertain, although he is confirmed to be in custody.
