The Charlemont community is reeling from the devastating loss of 20-year-old Darek Harvey, a former student-athlete at Brattleboro Union High School, who tragically died in a single-vehicle crash last Friday, November 7, 2025. According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Harvey was the sole occupant of his vehicle when it collided with a tree on Burrington Road around 4:45 a.m. The impact caused the car to catch fire shortly afterward. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Darek’s passing has left his family, friends, and the community heartbroken. His mother, Heidi Hier, shared her grief on social media, saying, “These past few days have been the hardest of my entire life… My heart is broken into a million pieces, and there’s no fixing it. I feel so empty, so lost, so confused, so hurt, so absolutely broken. How does a mother go on after losing her child, her only child?” She described Darek not only as her son but as her best friend and partner in crime, a connection that made this loss even more excruciating.
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Darek was an accomplished hockey player, known for his role as a goaltender on the Brattleboro Union High School ice hockey team. He was admired for his passion, dedication, and talent on the ice. A memorable highlight of his athletic career came in February 2022, when his incredible leg save in the final moments of a game helped secure a 3-2 victory for the varsity team over Middlebury. His competitive spirit and love for the game made a lasting impact on teammates and fans alike.
The community has come together to honor Darek’s memory, with a tribute at the crash site where two hockey sticks were arranged in the shape of a cross. The tribute symbolizes both his love for the sport and the deep sorrow felt by all who knew him. Friends and family have shared memories of Darek’s warmth, humor, generosity, and infectious laughter, recalling how he brightened their lives with his joyful presence.
A GoFundMe campaign was set up to assist with funeral expenses and has already raised nearly $7,000 of its $9,000 goal, reflecting the outpouring of love and support from the community during this difficult time.
Though Darek’s life was tragically cut short, his memory will live on through the countless lives he touched. His kindness, spirit, and passion for life will never be forgotten by those who knew him.
May Darek Harvey rest in peace, and may his family and community find strength in the love and memories he leaves behind.