Brandon Hensel, a former Newtown High School student-athlete described as a gentle giant by those who knew him, died in a car crash early Sunday morning. He was 22 years old.

Police say Hensel’s Ford Explorer went off Toddy Hill Road in Newtown and that he later died from his injuries at Danbury Hospital. Debris and tire tracks were still there on Thursday.

Police are still investigating what caused the crash. His funeral is Saturday.

His former football coach Steve George called Hensel a leader.

"You can never prepare or expect for something like that," said George.

The former coach says Hensel had to work at football, but his studies came easy for someone with an amazing energetic spirit.

"He earned everything that he got and the potential that he had in the classroom as a student," he said.

With that potential, he just earned his degree in mechanical engineering at Central Connecticut State University.

A GoFundMe has been set up to pay for funeral expenses.