Community Rallies to Aid Families of 2 Killed in Crash
Members of the South Jersey community are showing their concern and support for the families of two accident victims, one a 9-year-old Ocean View boy, who died in Vineland on Thursday, Sept. 12, when an SUV was involved in a collision with a motorcycle.
A vigil was held for Easton Beisler, who played peewee football for the Upper Township Indians, and for his family on Sunday, Sept. 15, and a GoFundMe page set up on their behalf has raised nearly $118,000 in four days, as of the morning of Monday, Sept. 16.
A separate vigil was planned for Monday, Sept. 16 (after the Herald’s print deadline) in Vineland for Addiel A. Ortiz of Millville, a corrections officer and father of four, who was riding the motorcycle involved in the crash. Ortiz was a peewee football coach with the Vineland Blitz. A GoFundMe page to support his family has raised nearly $40,000 as of the morning of Sept. 16.
According to a report published by The Press of Atlantic City, the accident occurred on Maple Avenue near the entrance to the Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex, where Easton had been involved in a peewee football game.
He was riding in the back of a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse SUV when, at around 5:53 p.m., the driver, Lauren C. Beisler, 42, attempted to make a left turn into the sports complex. The Traverse was struck by a 2019 Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle operated by Ortiz.
Ortiz and Easton were both determined to be dead at the scene. Lauren Beisler was not injured.
An investigation is ongoing, The Press quoted police as saying.
The vigil for Easton was held at Caldwell Park in the Palermo section of Upper Township. An Upper Township official reported that hundreds took part, to honor and memorialize the loss of the fourth grader, who was described as being able to “light up a room” with his presence.
According to the Indians’ webpage, representatives from all other Cape Atlantic Football League teams and the Upper Township Sports Association participated in the event.
The vigil for Ortiz was scheduled to be held at Romano field, near which the fatal accident occurred. Ortiz’s peewee football team expressed its condolences and support for both victims’ families. Besides his four children Ortiz, a corrections officer for more than a decade, leaves behind a fiancée.
Upper Township Business Administrator Gary DeMarzo said the township could not comment about the accident except to say hearts go out to both families at such a time.
The GoFundMe page was established by the Upper Township football program for Easton, who had been referred to as “#23” on social media. The page described him as “a talented peewee player who touched the hearts of everyone around him.”
The message went on to say that the football organization and the community is grieving his loss, and that the township had canceled all games for the weekend.
“In this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. We believe that coming together to support one another and honor his memory is the most important thing we can do right now,” the GoFundMe page reads.
For those who are interested in contributing to help Easton’s family, go to https://gofund.me/c963230b. The GoFundMe page for the Ortiz family is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ortiz-family-after-sudden-loss-of-addiel.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
