9-year-old youth soccer player dies in accident in which the opposing team's coach was also killed

VINELAND, NJ (Gray News) – A New Jersey community is mourning the deaths of a 9-year-old youth soccer player and the coach of another youth team following an accident outside a sports complex.

Hundreds gathered at a vigil Sunday night to remember 9-year-old Easton Beisler, a fourth-grader at Upper Township Primary School who played youth soccer for the Upper Township Indians, WPVI reports.

According to police, Easton was riding an SUV driven by his mother outside the Romano Sports Complex in Vineland on Thursday night when they collided with 31-year-old Addiel Ortiz, who was riding a motorcycle. Easton and Ortiz both died in the crash.

Ortiz was a youth coach with the Vineland Blitz. His team hosted Easton's team the night of the crash, WPVI reports.

Vigil attendees honored Easton, who wore jersey No. 23, with 23 seconds of silence, according to WTXF. A GoFundMe for his family remembers him as “a smart and talented peewee player who touched the hearts of everyone around him.”

“The best kid,” music teacher Amy Lord said at the vigil. “He embodied all the good words you can use to describe a child.”

A vigil is planned for Monday evening for Ortiz, who worked as a youth soccer coach and as a law enforcement officer for more than 10 years. He leaves behind his fiancée and four children, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up for his family.

Gandalf Sollenberger, a board member of Vineland Blitz, spoke to several local news outlets about Ortiz and called him a loving father.

“He was a great guy,” Sollenberger told KYW. “He was always generous.”

Members of the regional youth soccer community are devastated by the loss of a talented player and a beloved coach. Jerome Clements, who coached the Blitz alongside Ortiz for four years, attended the vigil for Easton, WPVI reports.

“It's a tragedy. That's what it is. The young man didn't even have a chance to live his life, and Coach Addie didn't have a chance to live his,” Clements said.

Police said no charges have been filed in the accident. Easton's mother was not injured, according to KYW.

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