A close‑knit Berkshire County community is grappling with profound grief this week following the tragic loss of 20‑year‑old Darek Harvey of Charlemont. The former student‑athlete from Brattleboro Union High School was the only person in his vehicle when it left the roadway and smashed into a tree on Burrington Road at approximately 4:45 a.m. last Friday; the vehicle caught fire shortly after the collision and the crash remains under investigation by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
For his mother, Heidi Hier, the agony is unbearable. In a social media note she shared: “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?” In that message she described Darek not merely as her son but as her best friend, her partner in crime, her twin in so many ways—underscoring the deep bond between them.
Darek was remembered by his teammates and coaches as a fiercely dedicated athlete, serving as goaltender for the Brattleboro Union High School ice hockey team. One highlight stood out: in February 2022, he made a breathtaking leg save with just twenty seconds left on the clock that secured a 3–2 victory over Middlebury. That moment typified his athleticism, his hunger to win, and the inspiration he brought to the rink.
In the days following his death, the Charlemont community has shown a poignant and heartfelt tribute. At the crash site on Route 2 near Burrington Road, two hockey sticks were crossed and placed in the shape of a “X” on the tree where his vehicle struck—a silent, powerful testament to his love of the sport and the sorrow that now reverberates in this small town.
Friends recall Darek for more than his athletic feats. One of his former teammates, Matthew Gordon‑Macey, shared how Darek—always nicknamed “Harvs”—had a rare ability to lift the mood in any room and was unwavering in his support: “Being a goalie can be a lonely position, but I always felt at home with Harvey… we always had each other’s back.” In tributes, people speak of his warm laugh, his goofiness, his giant hugs, and the way he made each person around him feel seen and valued.
The outpouring of support has also taken tangible form. A GoFundMe page, started to help with funeral and related expenses, reached nearly $6,000 of a $9,000 goal within days—evidence that his life touched far more people, in Charlemont and beyond, than perhaps even he realized.
Though Darek’s life was cut shockingly short, his memory now carries forward in the hearts of his family, friends, coaches, and community. His kindness, his competitive spirit, his laughter, and his care for others form the legacy he leaves behind. And in that legacy, his mother and loved ones are holding on—through the pain, the empty space, and the longing—to the unshakeable truth that his life mattered, and continues to matter. May Darek rest in peace, and may those who loved him find solace in the bond they shared and the mark he made.
