A beloved youth football coach has died following a crash in Simsbury.
Colin Stephenson, 44, was found trapped in his vehicle in the woods after a crash that left him there overnight last week, according to police.
Police received a call that Stephenson had not returned home on Tuesday, Sept. 30. He was found in his car in the woods off of Brushy Hill Plain Road around 10:15 a.m. the following morning. Police believe he was trapped in the car for around 12 hours, according to reports.
Stephenson was taken to the St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and pronounced dead Oct. 3.
The Simsbury Youth Football and Cheer, and Simsbury Little League groups shared their condolences on Facebook earlier this week.
“The Simsbury Youth Football family is heartbroken by the loss of one of our own this week. We are mourning the passing of a beloved coach, mentor, husband, father and friend, Colin Stephenson.
Colin coached hard, but he loved harder. He was fierce, loyal, and passionate, everything you could hope for in a coach. He brought an intensity that inspired everyone around him, yet he always made sure every child felt seen, valued, and included. He touched countless young lives in our community, and his presence left a lasting mark on the Simsbury football family.
Relentless, aggressive, thoughtful, and caring, Colin embodied what it meant to give everything to the game and to the people in it. Our world feels dimmer without him, but his spirit will live on in the lessons he taught and the love he shared.
We will honor him every day by carrying forward the values he instilled and striving to make him proud.
Holding his family close to our hearts.”
“Simsbury Little League extends its deepest condolences to the Stephenson family,” a post on the group’s Facebook page read. “Colin had been a fixture at Memorial over the years and was a proud supporter of the program, even after his son’s baseball days were over. Colin’s positivity, support, and smile will be missed by all who knew him.”
A MealTrain page for donations was set up to assist the Stephenson family. It had raised over $36,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
