Mothers face accused driver at trial over fatal e-bike collision
Vincent Battiloro, 18, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17, who were killed while riding an electric bike in Cranford, New Jersey. His first in-person court appearance brought the girls’ mothers face to face with him, more than a year after the crash.
Prosecutors allege Battiloro drove at 70mph in a 25mph zone and deliberately struck the teenagers on 29 September 2025. They say he fled, then claimed a carjacker had taken his Jeep, while dashcam footage showed him driving. He faces two first-degree murder charges; his lawyers plan to pursue an insanity or diminished-capacity defence, and prosecutors say no plea deal is being offered.
In short
- Battiloro pleaded not guilty to two murder charges.
- Prosecutors allege he drove at 70mph in a 25mph zone.
- His lawyers plan an insanity or diminished-capacity defence.
Explained simply
Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas were 17-year-old friends riding an electric bike in Cranford, New Jersey, when they were killed in a collision with a Jeep on 29 September 2025. The driver, Vincent Battiloro, was 17 at the time and is now 18.
Battiloro has denied two murder charges. Prosecutors say he drove far above the 25mph speed limit and intentionally hit the girls; his lawyers plan to argue that his mental state affected his responsibility.
The case will consider what happened before and after the collision, including the driver’s account and dashcam footage. Its outcome will determine whether Battiloro is held criminally responsible for the teenagers’ deaths.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Grieving moms forced to face their daughters’ suspected killer in court as man goes to trial for running over two teens riding e-bikes”.