Driver Who Fatally Ran Over Teen Girls Was Stalking 1 Of The Victims, Neighbors Say

Two teens are dead after being hit and killed by a New Jersey motorist while riding their bikes in a residential neighborhood. 

“The Township of Cranford is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two young women in last night’s heartbreaking incident,” the Cranford Township Committee said in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Neighbors identified the victims as Maria and Isabela, both 17 years old, Fox 5 New York reported. Mayor Terrence Curran said they were students at Cranford High School, the outlet reports.

Neighbors who knew the girls reportedly said the male suspect, who was taken into custody, is also 17. No charges have been filed, per PIX11.

PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from the Cranford Police Department. 

According to a press release from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force and the Cranford Police Department, the deadly incident happened at approximately 5:26 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 29, as the girls were riding electronic bikes on Burnside Avenue.

Authorities have asked residents to check their home surveillance cameras or dash cam footage for a 2021 black Jeep Compass Utility 4D Altitude 4WD with tinted windows. The alert included a photo of a vehicle matching the make and model. 

Neighbors who spoke with Fox 5 and WABC alleged that one of the girls was being stalked by the teen suspect for months, and that her friend just happened to be with her when the driver mowed them down.

“He’s been parked outside of her house, online, in school,” one woman told reporters, alongside another person seemingly familiar with the situation. 

The second person added, “The school was notified, the police were notified, like for three months now.”

“And nothing happened?” a third woman asked from off-camera, to which the second woman replied, “No,” as her voice began to break.

According to Fox 5, after the driver hit Maria and Isabela with enough force to kill them, he continued driving down the street, dragging one of the bikes with him until the bike “may have ended up disabling” his vehicle, making it stop. 

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

“Our hearts are broken with this sudden and senseless loss of two beautiful young lives,” Tiffany Pinero wrote in a GoFundMe established to raise funds for Maria and Isabela’s families.

“This is an active investigation and we cannot share any further details. We will let the police do their work. We are grateful for law enforcement and all first responders and neighbors that tried their very best for a better outcome for the girls,” she continued.

Cranford Public Schools said in a statement to PIX11, “Our Cranford community suffered a terrible tragedy. 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.”

Crisis counselors were available to students at all Cranford schools on Tuesday.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact Union County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force Detective Alex Lanza at (908) 370-4318 or Cranford Police Detective Jason D’Agostino at (908) 276-0171.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.