Erial Elementary Dedicates Tree in Memory of Sammie Nguyen-Ortanez

A magnolia tree was dedicated Friday afternoon outside Erial Elementary School in memory of a young student who was killed in an accident caused by an allegedly drunken driver in Philadelphia earlier this year.  

Samantha "Sammie" Nguyen-Ortanez was struck and killed while walking on South 8th Street near Philadelphia's Italian Market with her family in March. She was 11 years old.

Students, faculty and area residents came out to honor Nguyen-Ortanez's memory Friday. 

"The outpouring of love and concern for her family from our school and community has been so amazing to see," said Erial Elementary principal Tim Trow.

Sammie was walking with her stepmother, Lacky Xiong, and 3-year-old brother, Aaron, on March 25 at around 12:30 p.m. when a car ran a red light on Washington Avenue and struck a Nissan Xterra SUV. The SUV's driver lost control of her vehicle and struck the family before crashing into the front of Captain Jesse's Seafood.

Xiong suffered two broken arms while Aaron broke his leg in the fatal accident. 

The driver of the car was identified by police as 28-year-old Max Drosi, of Miami, FL. Police never released the identity of the SUV's driver, who was not at fault in the fatal crash.

Drosi has been charged with aggravated  assault, homicide by vehicle, and driving under the influence.

The magnolia tree was donated and planted by The Brickman Group, a local commercial landscape and turf maintenance company. It is meant to serve as a reminder of the life of a fifth-grade student neighbors, classmates and friends described as sweet and vivacious.  

Trow led Friday's ceremony, noting it was Sammie's classmates' idea to plant the tree in her memory.

"The class wanted to do something at the school to remember her," he said.

Trow added the tree and accompanying marker will be "a lasting reminder of a wonderful friend and classmate." The marker, which reads "We Will Remember Our Friend and Classmate," sits under the magnolia tree just outside the main entrance of the school. 

An emotional Kelly Hoskins, Sammie's fifth-grade teacher, read an original poem entitled "Stages," to honor her former student. A song, titled "That's What I'm Taking with Me," was performed by the entire Erial Elementary fifth-grade class. The song was written and composed by Ron Wines, Erial Elementary's music teacher.

Wines indicated that the school's fifth-grade students had a lot of input on the content and direction of the song. He noted it was modeled in the style of One Direction, Sammie's favorite musical group.

Gloucester Townhip Mayor David Mayer addressed the crowd gathered for the dedication, saying that it was "a day for celebration of Samantha's life" and that "every time the tree blooms, every time a flower opens, you will all remember her."

Mayer credited Erial's fifth-grade students for their bravery and perseverance through this very difficult year, while both Trow and Hoskins reminded the class of the importance of remembering Sammie and of not taking anything they have for granted.

At the ceremony's conclusion, students, staff, and guests, including Mayer, lined up to place red carnations under the tree.

In addition to the mayor, 4th Legislative District Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera, Township Councilwoman Michelle Gentek, Gloucester Township Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Seddon, Assistant Superintendent John Bilodeau, facilities director Sani Umar and school board member Marianne Coyle were present. 

Sammie's parents were unable to attend the dedication.