As families and friends mourn the deaths of four teenagers killed in a wreck Saturday night in Cortland, the community is coming together to raise money to help cover funeral expenses.
Several fundraisers have been set up by individuals and local businesses for people to donate to the families of Jenna Helton, 14, Martin Martinez, 16, both of Seymour, and Nevaeh Law, 14, and Brittany Watson, 15, both of Brownstown.
All four died as a result of a wreck reported to police around 11 p.m. Saturday in the 4400 block of State Road 258 in Cortland. They were helping push a broken-down vehicle back to a residence nearby when they were struck from behind by another vehicle.
The three girls were pronounced dead at the scene, and Martinez died while being flown by helicopter to an Indianapolis hospital. Five other girls were injured and are recovering at area hospitals or have been released.
On Monday, Cloie Rojas of Seymour organized a car wash at Taco Bell, where Martinez worked, to raise money.
More than a dozen kids and adults were there with sponges, hoses and buckets of soapy water. Some stood along Tipton Street (U.S. 50) with signs. Vehicles lined up just as quick as the group could wash and rinse them.
“If everyone comes together, it will help take away the financial burden these families are facing because that should be the least of their concerns,” Rojas said.
Most of the students helping out had been close friends or even in some cases family of the four teens.
Artema Barnard, 14, of Seymour is Law’s stepsister.
Too emotional to go to school, Barnard said doing something like washing cars helped take her mind off of the situation. She also appreciated the support of everyone who showed up.
“Nevaeh had a lot of friends. She was so bubbly and fun and made everybody laugh,” Barnard said.
Taco Bell shift manager Jordan Davis helped wash cars, too. Davis said all of the employees are mourning one of their own.
“We are all pretty shaken up by what happened,” Davis said. “Martin was a great young man, and he was part of our Taco Bell family.”
The Seymour Taco Bell is organizing another car wash for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The proceeds from that car wash and the one Monday will go to all four families.
Eric Buit, an employee of Comfort Systems in Louisville, was in the area working when he saw the car wash.
“I had heard about the wreck on TV (Sunday),” he said. “I think it’s great all these kids want to do something to help.”
After making a donation, Buit drove his work van around, and the kids started hosing it down.
One of the boys helping was Seymour High School freshman Aydon Caudill, who said he just wanted to do something to help. Besides the car wash, Caudill and two of his friends, freshmen Aspen Rhodes and Adelfo Perez-Gonzalez, designed T-shirts and decals in memory of their friends and are taking orders online and at both SHS and Brownstown Central High School, where Law and Watson were freshmen.
Rhodes came up with the image of an angel leading four teenagers, all holding hands, through the night sky to heaven. All four of the students’ names are listed. On the back is a pair of angel wings with the date they died and the phrase “Your wings were ready…Our hearts were not.”
The deadline to order is Sept. 7. The cost is $15 for short sleeve, $20 for long sleeve and an additional $5 for larger sizes. Decals are $8. Order forms were distributed at both Seymour and Brownstown Central high schools.
All money raised from the sales will go to the families of the deceased. The public can contact Lisa Crowe at 812-760-3549 to place an order.
Rhodes, Caudill and Perez-Gonzalez said they just wanted to do something productive and positive to work through their grief and help the families.
Rails Craft Brew and Eatery, 114 St. Louis Ave. in downtown Seymour, also is getting involved. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 5, the restaurant will donate all proceeds to all of the families.
“We want to show that no matter what you’re going through, you’re not going through it alone,” said Brittany Fish, marketing manager at the restaurant. “We just want to show we support them emotionally and try to take off a little financial burden or as much as we can.”
The fundraiser is a personal one for everyone at the restaurant, Fish said, because employees Debra Able and Chelsey Arthur were both affected by the tragedy.
Able is Nevaeh Law’s stepmother and Arthur’s daughter, Courtney, was injured in the wreck.
Fish said the employees at the restaurant are like family and bond together during hard times.
“If somebody needs something, whether it’s financial support or emotional support, we all try to be there for each other,” she said. “Debra has been here since Day 1, and Chelsey has been here for two years, so we’re here for them and the others.”
Several family members and friends have started online fundraising pages to help with funeral expenses. People can make donations at the following sites:
- For Brittany Watson: gofundme.com/brittany-watson
- For Nevaeh Law: woodlawnfamilyfuneral.com/obituaries/Nevaeh-A-Law?obId=3249618#/tributeFundTab
- For Jenna Helton: facebook.com/donate/283328285815854/2262220613806974
- For Martin Martinez: gofundme.com/e4npf-martin-martinez
Torre Collins, mother of Nevaeh Law, said she is amazed by the outpouring of support from everyone.
“This little county has pulled together in such a tragic time,” Collins said. “And the support has been amazing.”
John Helton, father of Jenna Helton, said the community has been supportive and made him realize the love people have.
“My family and I stopped in at the SHS vigil Sunday and was touched seeing the community come together,” he said. “These kind of beautiful things remind me how there is so much good in this world.”
At a glance
Taco Bell in Seymour has organized a car wash from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot to raise money to pay funeral expenses for employee Martin Martinez, 16, of Seymour, who was one of four teenagers killed in a wreck Saturday night in Cortland.
A benefit event for Martinez’s family is scheduled for 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the American Legion Annex in Seymour. There will be live bands, raffles and a silent auction. Monetary donations or donations of items to raffle and auction off can be made at the American Legion, 414 W. Second St., Seymour.
Cricket Wireless, 600 E. Tipton St., Seymour, is accepting donations for the families of all those affected.
Rails Craft Brew and Eatery, 114 St. Louis Ave., Seymour, also is getting involved. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 5, the restaurant will donate all proceeds to all of the families.
Several family members and friends have started online fundraising pages to help with funeral expenses. People can make donations at the following sites:
For Brittany Watson: https://www.gofundme.com/brittany-watson
For Nevaeh Law: http://www.woodlawnfamilyfuneral.com/obituaries/Nevaeh-A-Law?obld=3249618#/tributeFundTab
For Jenna Helton: https://www.facebook.com/donate/283328285815854/2262220613806974/
For Martin Martinez: https://www.gofundme.com/e4npf-martin-martinez
As The Tribune receives additional information on fundraisers, we will share them with readers both in print and online.