CRANFORD, N.J. — Heartbreak and outrage ripple through Cranford as the community mourns the devastating loss of two 17-year-old high school students, Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, who were killed in a hit-and-run crash on Monday.

Authorities confirmed that both girls, described by friends and classmates as bright, kind, and full of promise, were struck by a Jeep whose driver fled the scene. Neighbors have since come forward with troubling claims, alleging the driver had been stalking one of the victims for months. Despite complaints being made, no action was taken before this tragedy unfolded.

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is now urging the public to come forward with information. Investigators are seeking witnesses or surveillance video showing the Jeep before or after the crash. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for tips leading to an arrest and indictment. Anonymous tips can be submitted by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477).

The deaths of Maria and Isabella have left their families and classmates shattered, with grief compounded by the senseless nature of the crime. Vigils and memorials are being organized by peers who remember the girls for their laughter, kindness, and the dreams they carried for the future.

“This should never have happened,” one neighbor said. “They were two beautiful young women with their whole lives ahead of them. Our community will not rest until there is justice.”

As investigators press forward, Cranford holds tightly to the memory of Maria and Isabella—two lives taken far too soon, leaving behind a legacy of love, friendship, and promise that will never be forgotten.