CRANFORD, N.J. (NewsNation) — Emergency calls from the moments after two 17-year-old girls were killed in a hit-and-run crash in Cranford, New Jersey, were released Tuesday.
Seven calls to emergency dispatchers described seeing at least one person injured in the crash that killed Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas as they rode an e-bike, according to an audio file released by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Chilling to hear those tapes,” Niotis’ family attorney Brent Bramnick told “Banfield.”
“To hear the panic, the complete chaos that was going on that evening was frightening, and it was horrifying to have the family relive that.”
Suspect’s whereabouts remain undisclosed: Lawyer
Prosecutors didn’t name the suspect. NJ.com obtained citations issued in the crash that named the suspect as Vincent P. Battiloro, 17, of Garwood, New Jersey.
Police say Battiloro was driving 70 mph in a 25 mph zone, is facing first-degree murder charges in the crash. However, there has been no word on where he’s been since being charged.
“Unfortunately, based upon the incredible confidentiality that’s in juvenile, I do not know that information, and the public is not given that information, and that’s the very difficult part,” added Bramnick.
Balittoro is accused of deliberately hitting and killing the girls, per the publication, and was issued 15 tickets, including leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, careless driving and speeding.
The prosecutor’s office said as of Thursday morning, the suspect was in custody.
Suspect could be charged as an adult ‘reasonable’: Lawyer
Currently, the case is in the juvenile court, but minors 15 or older can be tried as adults in the state if a prosecutor files a waiver motion and the court finds probable cause, according to NJ.com.
As a former prosecutor in Union County, and having done waiver motions to bring juveniles to adult court, what I see, based upon the factors in the statute, is that I think it is very reasonable,” Bramnick acknowledged.
“This juvenile was 17 years old. Again, he’s close to 18. This is an allegation of a homicide, the most serious offense we have. “They’re in the statute.”
Bramnick said there will be a hearing to determine if Battiloro will be prosecuted in adult criminal court.
NewsNation’s Patrick Djordjevic contributed to this report.