Brattleboro Union High School hockey player, Darek Harvey, passed away in a tragic accident in Charlemont, Massachusetts, on November 6, 2025, at the age of 20.
He played for the Brattleboro Hockey Association for many years, as well as the Brattleboro Bears Boys High School Hockey Team.
Sadly, the young athlete took his last breath in less than a month short of celebrating his 21st birthday.
The crash happened around 4:45 a.m. on Route 2 near Burrington Road, and he was the only person in the car. According to the police, the vehicle Darek was driving left the road, hit a tree, and burst into flames. Firefighters put out the blaze, but Darek didn’t survive.
Darek is survived by his mother, Heidi Hier; his girlfriend, Lily Gibson; friends; and his extended family members.
Lily Gibson and Darek started dating in May 2024 and were so in love.
Following his unexpected demise, Lily shared a lengthy post expressing her grief and disbelief. She wrote:
I dont know the right words to say but i dont think i ever will. Yesterday morning my entire life changed. My heart is with his family and friends when I say this. My boyfriend Darek Harvey unexpectedly passed away. I don’t even have any words on how devastating this time is not only for me but this entire family.
Lily Gibson
Sadly, the hockey player left the world just a few days short of celebrating a year and a half anniversary with his girlfriend, Lily Gibson.
The couple would’ve celebrated their 1.5 years of relationship on November 9, 2025. Lily wrote:
On the 9th, we would have been dating for 1 and a half years, the best time of my life.
Lily Gibson
“Through all the ups and downs I had him right by my side and we worked together and grew together. I love him with so much of me and I can’t even process the events that took place,” she added.
Likewise, she also opened up on Instagram about how much he meant to her and how they got together. She said losing him has been impossible to accept.
She still thinks about the night he asked her out. They were in his room, up late just talking, when he said he had something on his mind.
Darek and Lily kept teasing each other, saying back and forth, “never mind,” “no, tell me,” until he finally said it: “I love you.”
She looked at him and laughed, “Wait, you said you love me before even asking me to be your girlfriend?” He smiled, looked right into her eyes, and asked her to be his.
Of course, she said yes and told him she loved him too. It felt like they both knew it was coming, even though they’d only been talking for about a month.
On their first real date, they talked all night in her car in a Subway parking lot. She kept saying she had work the next morning, but neither of them wanted to go home. They just sat there, sharing stories about anything and everything.
Lily opened up; they had actually met a couple of years earlier. After losing touch, he went looking for her again and found her on Snapchat.
At first, she’d ask if he remembered her from before. He said no.
But she saves old chats, and when he added her again, she showed him their old messages. He admitted he’d been trying to find her after getting removed from her contacts.
She teased him, calling it “stalking,” but it never bothered her; it just showed how much he cared, that after all that time, he still wanted her back.
“I hope wherever his spirit is that he’s happy and remembering all the love he received not only from me but his family and friends. I love you Darek always ❤️,” she ended the lengthy post, recalling the memories.
Heidi, his mother, also shared a lengthy eulogy describing this time as the hardest days of her entire life despite enduring much enormous pain.
Nothing in the world can compare to the pain I’m feeling right now! My heart is broken into a million pieces and there’s no fixing it.
Heidi Hier
I have to carry this hole in my heart until my time is up and I have no idea how to carry on like this. I feel so empty! So lost! So confused! So hurt! So absolutely broken!!!
She questioned how a mother can go on with her life after losing her child.
Heidi ended the post, “I miss his hugs, goofyness, voice, laugh, scent, his ‘I love you,” his random phone calls, smart mouth, his beautiful heart and smile, I miss it all! It’s all so painful!! I MISS YOU & I LOVE YOU SO BIG SHORTY! 💕“
Born on December 2, 2004, in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, Darek played goalie for Brattleboro back in high school.
One night in February 2022, he made a huge leg save with 20 seconds left to help his team beat Middlebury 3-2, and the play is still remembered.
Meanwhile, the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office is still looking into what caused the crash.
By Monday, friends had placed two hockey sticks, crossed against each other, against the tree where it all happened.
A GoFundMe campaign was started over the weekend to help cover funeral costs.
A visitation is set for Monday, November 24, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire on High Street in Brattleboro. The memorial service will follow immediately, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the exact location.
During this challenging phase, we pray for the strength of Darek’s mother, girlfriend, friends, teammates, and extended family.
Rest In Heavenly Peace, Darek Harvey!
