A 17-year-old has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly intentionally mowing down two teenage girls on bicycles on a New Jersey street, authorities said Wednesday.
Law enforcement sources say the incident may have stemmed from a possible break-up or argument.
Police have not released the name of the driver since the crash in Cranford earlier this week killed a pair of 17-year-old best friends.
Police haven’t officially released the girls’ identities, but an uncle identified one victim as Isabella and said he did not believe the incident was an accident. Sources say the three apparently knew each other.
The girls were riding their e-bikes on Burnside Avenue in Cranford around 5:30 p.m. Monday when a driver in a black SUV hit them. Witnesses said the driver immediately took off, but was later caught and taken into custody. The police are looking into potential criminal charges, according to law enforcement sources.
Neighbors who saw the aftermath called the entire ordeal repulsive.
“Horrible. Horrible. Nothing in the world is more horrible than what I saw yesterday,” said Barbara Bryson. “It’s just devastating. It’s devastating for the community, everybody’s affected by this.”
“Hearing that someone was hit by a car, it was absolutely devastating. But then as the whole story unwinded, it was so sickening. Like how could you leave?” asked Amanda Poda, of Cranford.
Isabella’s uncle called the girls’ deaths horrific
“Seventeen years old, great girl,” he said, in Spanish, of his niece. “She was riding her bike with her best friend. They were riding along and then this guy comes and kills them.”
An investigation is ongoing. The Union County Prosecutor’s Office said they were looking for witnesses or anyone with video footage of the Jeep involved from before, during or after the deadly incident.
Those with information are asked to call the Union County prosecutor’s office at 908-370-4318.
