N.J. 17-Year-Old Charged with Murder in e-Bike Crash that Killed 2 Teens: Police By Janelle Griffith

A 17-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two 17-year-old girls who were fatally struck while riding an e-bike on the evening of Monday, Sept. 29, in Cranford, N.J., authorities announced Wednesday.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the girls has been taken into custody by members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Cranford Police Department, Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel and Cranford Police Chief Matthew Nazzaro said in a joint statement Wednesday. Oct. 1.

The teen suspect, from neighboring Garwood, has not been identified.

Relatives identified the victims as Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, CBS New York reported. Relatives and friends of the girls told Fox 5 and WABC that the driver had been stalking one of the teens.

“She made complaints and nothing was done,” said Tammy Carbajal, who the outlet identified as a friend. “It’s just a tragedy.”

Another neighbor told Fox 5 New York that officials had been made aware of the alleged stalking.

“The school was notified, for like three months now,” that neighbor alleged. Cranford Public Schools did not respond to an inquiry about those claims.

PEOPLE also reached out to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, which is investigating the fatal crash, and to the Cranford Police Department, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, about those allegations but did not hear back.

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The girls were fatally struck around 5:30 p.m. on Monday while riding an electronic bike on Burnside Avenue, Cranford police and the prosecutor’s office have said. Marie and Isabella were taken to area hospitals, where they were pronounced dead.

Hundreds gathered at a vigil to honor the girls Tuesday evening, where Maria, who had a twin brother, was remembered as fun and kind, CBS New York reported. A friend of Isabella’s said she was a talented singer and a joy to be around.

In a statement to the school community that was also shared with PEOPLE, Cranford Superintendent Dr. Scott Rubin said, in part: “While we respect the privacy of the families involved, we understand that this news will no doubt impact our school community. Please know that we are here to offer and provide comfort and support during this very difficult time.”

A GoFundMe that has been launched to support the families of both victims has raised more than $70,000 as of early Wednesday afternoon.