9-year-old football player, coach from another team killed in South Jersey crash

Following an accident on Thursday night, two football communities in South Jersey are grieving the loss of a young child and coach.

It occurred outside the Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex in Vineland at approximately 5:53 p.m.

Addiel A. Ortiz, 31, of Millville, was involved in a collision with a Chevy Traverse while riding his motorbike east on Maple Avenue, according to the police.

Ortiz was declared dead, as was a 9-year-old boy inside the Traverse who the police named as E.B.

According to authorities, Lauren Beisler, the driver of the Traverse, was unharmed.

Two people died in the crash: an Upper Township junior Football player and the coach of the Vineland Blitz junior football team, according to the Cape-Atlantic Junior Football League.

The football team of Vineland Blitz was playing the Upper Township Indians on the night of the crash, according to information obtained by Action News.

A GoFundMe page identified the boy as Easton Beisler. More than $70,000 has been raised since the fund was started on Friday.

“Our organization and community is grieving the loss of #23, a bright and talented peewee player who touched the hearts of everyone around him. It is with deep sadness that we announce the cancellation of all Upper Township games this weekend,” the Upper Township Indians shared in a statement with Action News.

Beisler was a 4th grader at Upper Township Primary School. Grief counselors were at the school Friday to assist students and staff.

“Our hearts are heavy as we remember a young life taken too soon, and our deepest sympathies and thoughts are with the family during this incredibly difficult time,” the district said in a statement.

Gandalf Sollenberger, who is on the Vineland Blitz board, told Action News Ortiz was a football coach of nearly five years while also working as a state correctional police officer.

Known to players as “Coach Addi,” he described Ortiz as loving father who enjoyed teaching kids on the gridiron in his spare time.

A GoFundMe created by Ortiz’s friend has raised more than $27,000.

“He served as a state correction police officer for over 10 years at Southern state Correctional Facility and Bayside State Prison. Addiel leaves behind his fiancé Destiny and 4 children,” read a description on the page.

Both football clubs have canceled sporting activities for the weekend as the towns continue to mourn this tragedy.