Vigil for 9-year-old football player who died in accident near Vineland Sports Complex

VINELAND, NJ – A New Jersey community is in mourning after a beloved football coach and a nine-year-old Pee-Wee football player were killed in a horrific car crash in Vineland on Thursday.

Hundreds of friends, family and football players of all ages gathered at Caldwell Park to honor Easton Beisler, a 9-year-old Pee-Wee football player who touched so many lives.

“The best kid,” said Amy Lord, music teacher. “He embodied every good word you can use to describe a child.”

Name any sport and Beisler not only played, he excelled.

“He was the GOAT,” said Michelle Drewnowski, a teacher. “He never settled for anything less than greatness in all aspects of his life.”

“As a coach, you could see his basketball game improving and I was excited for the upcoming season. Unfortunately, he won't get that chance,” said coach Anthony Jackson.

Easton and trainer Addiel Ortiz both died Thursday after Ortiz was riding his motorcycle on Maple Avenue when he struck Lauren Beisler's SUV with Easton in the back seat, according to police.

Members of Coach Ortiz's team also came to pay their respects to the two people who died in the football community.

“It's really a tragedy. I mean, the young man didn't get a chance to live his life, and Coach Addie really didn't get a chance to live his life. He's only 31 and has four kids,” Vineland Blitz coach Jerome Clements said.

Those attending the vigil observed 23 seconds of silence to honor Easton and the number he always wore, a time his coaches said should be remembering his teammates who may have lost a brother, but now they have an angel cheering them on.

“It's OK, it's OK. We're here to help you and be the best, like Easton would be, we love him. God rest his soul,” said coach Wes Yakopcic.

There will be another vigil in Vineland on Monday to honor Coach Ortiz.

For anyone wishing to help the Ortiz and Beisler families, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Easton Beisler here, while another GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Addiel Ortiz, which can be found here.