The teenager implicated in the deaths of two 17-year-old girls during an alleged hit-and-run incident in New Jersey last year has been publicly identified. Prosecutors announced Friday that the individual will be tried in adult court.
The Union County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that 18-year-old Vincent Battiloro, from Garwood, has been transferred to adult court, where he will be prosecuted in connection with the fatalities of the two juvenile females.
Battiloro is now facing two counts of first-degree murder in the Criminal Part of Superior Court in Union County, following the waiver of his case from juvenile jurisdiction, according to a statement from the Union County Prosecutor's Office.
His identity had previously been protected because he was a minor at the time the alleged crimes occurred. Prosecutors indicated that his name could be released publicly once the case was moved to the adult court system.
Details of the Fatal Incident
Prosecutors allege that Battiloro, who was 17 at the time, struck Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis as they rode an electric bicycle in Cranford. The collision took place around 5:26 p.m. on September 29, 2025.
Both girls, aged 17, were transported to local hospitals but were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival.
Following an extensive investigation, Battiloro was apprehended and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, alongside multiple traffic offenses, as stated by prosecutors.
Records further indicate that Battiloro's father contacted law enforcement authorities in the aftermath of the crash.
Disturbing 911 Calls
Emergency dispatchers received calls describing the chaotic scene. One caller reported that a 2021 black Jeep Compass, which police identified as the vehicle Battiloro was operating,
