Adult Court Transfer marked a significant development in the New Jersey case involving a teenager accused of causing the deaths of two 17-year-old girls during an alleged hit-and-run crash.
Prosecutors announced that 18-year-old Vincent Battiloro of Garwood will stand trial as an adult after his case moved from juvenile court. The transfer allows prosecutors to publicly identify him because he was a minor when authorities filed the original charges.
Battiloro now faces two counts of first-degree murder in the Criminal Part of Superior Court in Union County. Prosecutors also charged him with multiple traffic-related offenses connected to the September 2025 crash.
According to prosecutors, Battiloro was 17 when the incident occurred on Sept. 29, 2025, in Cranford, New Jersey. Investigators allege he struck Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis while they were riding an electric bicycle at approximately 5:26 p.m.
Emergency responders transported both girls, who were 17 years old, to nearby hospitals after the collision. Medical personnel later pronounced both teenagers dead.
Authorities said they arrested Battiloro following an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Prosecutors stated that officers initially detained him for questioning before releasing him. Authorities later arrested him on Oct. 1, two days after the incident.
The Adult Court Transfer followed a decision allowing the case to proceed outside the juvenile court system. Prosecutors said that ruling also removed restrictions preventing the public release of Battiloro’s identity.
Records previously released by authorities included 911 calls placed immediately after the crash. One caller reported that a black 2021 Jeep Compass traveled at a high speed before striking several people. The caller also said one victim appeared unresponsive and another person was trapped beneath a vehicle.
Another caller told emergency dispatchers that no one appeared conscious and urged responders to arrive quickly. A separate caller described seeing a girl lying in the roadway while requesting immediate assistance.
Court records also indicate Battiloro’s father contacted law enforcement following the incident. Officials confirmed that investigators interviewed Battiloro before releasing him pending additional investigative steps.
Maria Niotis’ mother, Foulla Niotis, has publicly urged prosecutors to pursue the case in adult court. She previously said she believes the crash was planned and alleged that the defendant believed he was untouchable because of relatives working in law enforcement.
Niotis also claimed her family previously reported concerns that Battiloro had been stalking her daughter before the crash. She alleged local police failed to take sufficient action after receiving those reports.
In public statements, Niotis said she wants justice for both Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas. She also expressed disappointment with how authorities handled earlier complaints involving her daughter.
The Adult Court Transfer now moves the case into Superior Court, where prosecutors will pursue the pending first-degree murder charges. The criminal proceedings will continue as the court evaluates the evidence and addresses the allegations presented by both sides.
