Heidy Martinez was someone who connected "so well" with both her teachers and classmates, Blair Community Schools superintendent Randy Gilson said.

The 14-year-old died Friday morning. She was one of six 13- and 14-year-olds in a vehicle that left a farm field road and rolled, killing her and hospitalizing the car's five other occupants.

Martinez, a soon-to-be freshman at Blair High School, was a "dedicated" Otte Blair Middle School band member and "did extremely well academically," Gilson said.

"(It's) just a terrible loss," Gilson said. "She was just so outgoing, friendly and always wore a smile on her face. She's going to forever be missed."

According to a statement on the Otte Blair Middle School website, the school was open Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon with counselors available for students and staff. Gilson said counselors and students were still at the school past noon and would be there "as long as needed."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Martinez family and other students and families who are dealing with the sadness from yesterday's car accident," Gilson said.

The five other teens involved in the wreck were transported from the scene. Nebraska Medical Center couldn't provide a condition update Saturday on the three there, and no one could be reached at Blair Memorial Community Hospital.

According to information provided by Gilson, a visitation for Martinez will be held Thursday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair from 5 to 8 p.m. The vigil will be at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be held at St Francis Borgia Catholic Church on Friday at 10:00 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to St. Francis Borgia, which has helped to establish a GoFundMe page called the Heidy Martinez Memorial to provide support to the Martinez family.

#2-Published in the Pilot-Tribune July 9, 2019

(Photo)

Heidy Madai Martinez, age 14 of Blair, Nebraska, passed away July 5, 2019. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday July 12, 2019 at 10:00AM at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00PM with a vigil service at 7:00PM, Thursday July 11, 2019 at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair.

Heidy was born on October 26, 2004 in Palm Springs, California, the daughter of Jose and Yeny Martinez. In 2008 the family moved to the Midwest where Heidy blossomed. She attended school in Blair where she was an honor roll student and was involved in band, track and volleyball. Heidy will always be remembered for her smile and her genuine love for all people and animals.

She is survived by her parents Jose and Yeny, her sisters; Jadin, Leah, Makayla and Makenzie, along with her grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

#3-Published in the Pilot-Tribune July 9, 2019

A Blair teen killed in a one-vehicle accident Friday will be remembered for her smile and her love of people and animals.

Washington County sheriff's deputies, along with Blair, Arlington and Kennard fire and rescue units were dispatched to a rollover accident on County Road 18, a half-mile west of County Road 23 at approximately 10:26 a.m.

A Chevrolet SUV occupied by six juveniles — two boys and four girls, ages 13 and 14 — was southbound on a farm field road when the 14-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, entered a corn field on the east side of the road and rolled.

Heidy Martinez, 14, was killed. Sheriff Mike Robinson said Martinez was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.

The five other occupants were injured. One was transported by medical helicopter from the scene to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha; one was transported by rescue squad to Nebraska Medicine; and three were transported to Memorial Community Hospital and Health System, with one later taken by medical helicopter to Nebraska Medicine.

At least two of the accident victims remained in the hospital Monday. Both were listed in good condition.

Only one occupant of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt. The names of the others passengers and driver have not yet been released. The driver only had a school permit, according to officials.

The accident remains under investigation.

The teens were students at Blair Community Schools. Crisis counselors were available for students and staff Saturday at Otte Blair Middle School.

“We wanted them to know there was a place they could go to see their friends, see their teachers and get the support they need,” Supt. Randy Gilson said.

Counseling will continue to be available through Arbor Family Services, Gilson said.

Martinez was an honor roll student and was involved in band, track and volleyball, her obituary said.

“Heidy was an incredible young lady,” Gilson said. “She was a high-achieving student academically. Also very involved with Otte Middle School band and put a lot of hard work into the band.”

Gilson said Martinez always wore a smile.

“She'll forever will be missed,” he said. “I'm so sad for her family and for the families of all the other students involved in the car accident.”

Martinez is survived by her parents, Jose and Yeny; her sisters, Jadin, Leah, Makayla and Makenzie; and grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Friday at the church.

Two GoFundMe online fundraising pages have been established to help the family.

#4 Card of Thanks—posted on Blair Nebraska Gossip and News on August 27, 2019

Thank You from the family of Heidy Martinez. Words cannot express the feelings in our hearts. Thank you for being by our side during this difficult time, your visits, flowers, food and all donations in memory of Heidy. Thank you to St. Borgia church and father Damien, as well as Campbell-Aman Funeral Home for all the support and guidance in our time of need. We would also like to thank all the Blair community businesses that showed their support—the Martinez Family (by Yeny Martinez)

#5 Funeral Leaflet

(photo)

In Loving Memory of Heidy Madai Martinez

Born October 26, 2004 Palm Springs, California; Entered Into Rest July 5, 2019 Blair, Nebraska

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Friday, July 12, 2019, St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Father Damien Wee. Organist: Steve Sobota. Musical Selections: “How Great Thou Art”; “You Are Mine”; “One Bread, One Body”; “Song of Farewell”; “On Eagles Wings”

Pallbearers: Jose Martinez, Luke Loftis, John Holcomb, Jeff Nilges, Ronald Zimmerman “Banca”, Salvador Cuellar, Kaleb Loftis, Joseph Rodriquez

Graveside Services: Holy Cross Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska.

Obituaries and news clippings; funeral leaflet and card of thanks courtesy of the Washington County Historical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file at the Blair Public Library.

FindaGrave #200864207