A Union County community is in mourning after a deadly hit-and-run.

Two teenage girls are dead and the suspected driver is in custody. Officials say it all unfolded around 5:30 p.m. Monday on Burnside Avenue in Cranford.

It was a heartbreaking and emotional day as neighbors dropped off balloons, candles and cards at the site where two 17-year-old girls - two friends, simply out riding bikes, were plowed into by a driver who left the scene.

“I am a mother of five. So, we don't want to bury our children. Our children need to bury us, so we are here to support them no matter what,” said Tammy Carbajal, co-worker of one of the victim's mothers.

The Union County Prosecutor's Office is not saying much about what took place, only that two people, identified as 17-year-old girls by friends and neighbors, were hit on their bikes around 5:30 p.m. Monday on Burnside Avenue.

The alleged driver of the vehicle left the scene but was taken into custody a few blocks away. Neighbors want to know why and how something like this can happen.

Neighbors also say the person in custody is a 17-year-old boy who was familiar with the girls. Questions are also being raised by neighbors wanting to know if it was an accident or something intentional.

The father of one of the girls was overcome with grief as he stood in front of the growing memorial. Investigators have not released any of the names of the people involved.

“We got the call last night that her daughter was murdered or killed. Whatever it was and we are here to support the family, the friends and we're just all grieving together,” added Tammy Carbajal, an employee at Cranford Station House Diner.

The restaurant posted on its Facebook page that it would be closed for the day, writing in part, “as parents of four, we are deeply saddened and are at a loss for words. We can only pray and hope that something like this never happens again.”