East Boston High School graduates Isaiah Ortiz and Alexander Cabrera have been identified as the two victims of last Tuesday’s horrific car crash on Chelsea Street.
According to reports Ortiz died early Tuesday morning after the SUV he was riding in collided with a utility pole on Chelsea Street just before the bridge into Chelsea.
Cabrera and three others were rushed to area hospitals, but Cabrera died from his injuries later in the day. The other occupants of the vehicle are expected to recover.
The death of Ortiz, who graduated from EBHS two years ago, and Cabrera, who graduated in 2020, sent shock waves throughout the Eastie community where they were loved by many.
“I’m angry right now. I’m just angry,” said Oritz and Cabrera’s EBHS teacher Lauren Owens. “I’m so sorry for all of their family members and everyone who loved them.”
On Saturday, outside the Most Holy Redeemer Church on Maverick Street, the community gathered for a solemn vigil for Ortiz and Cabrera. Prayers for families of the deceased and those injured were offered by Pastor David Searles of the Central Assembly of God Church on Bennington Street and it was announced support services will be offered through the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for those struggling with the loss of the two young men.
“All the kids involved in the crash were former East Boston High students,” said EBHS Headmaster Phil Brangiforte. “Isaiah and Alexander were good kids…really good kids. It’s a really sad situation and has really affected us all at the High School even though they were not current students. We are not too far removed from when they both graduated and everyone up at the high school remembers them well. My heart goes out to their families. They were two young men with their whole lives ahead of them. As a father of five kids I’d be devastated so I can only imagine what their parents are going through.”
A GoFund me account has been established for Ortiz at https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-expenses-for-isaiah-ortiz?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign= to raise money and help his family defer some of the funeral costs. A Facebook fundraiser campaign was also launched for Cabrera at https://www.facebook.com/donate/264701035071957/2184005308397634/.