Remembering Colson Elijah Myers: The 14-Year-Old Athlete Whose Smile Lit Up Warkworth

 The farming community around Warkworth, Ontario, is grieving 14-year-old Colson Elijah Myers, who died suddenly on April 22, 2026. Born July 26, 2011, Colson was known across Trent Hills for a warmth that made classrooms, rinks, and store aisles feel lighter. News of his passing moved quickly through neighbors and teammates, leaving a deep absence in every hallway where a bright, kind teenager once stood.

Emergency crews responded just after 4 p.m. to an off-road trail between Burnbrae Road East and Loucks Road after a single-vehicle ATV rollover. First responders treated Colson at the scene before transporting him to Campbellford Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Ontario Provincial Police closed the trail for hours while specialists examined the site, and the investigation remains active with updates pending.

Family and friends remember a teen who lived with genuine kindness. He played minor hockey in winter, baseball in summer, and enjoyed weekend golf with relatives. He loved hunting and fishing along the Trent River, often valuing the story over the catch, and he doted on his family dog. Coaches recall a player who cheered teammates first and competed with quiet determination and humble sportsmanship.

At Sharpe’s Food Market, where Colson worked part time, coworkers saw the same steady character. A store tribute described him as an incredible young man with a positive attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to help without complaint. Customers noticed he remembered names, bagged groceries carefully, and offered assistance before being asked, reflecting values learned at home and practiced daily.

Family friend Luke Marshall started a fundraiser to help Colson’s parents and siblings with immediate costs and future memorial plans. The page calls him a vibrant 14-year-old who lit up rooms with his smile and always included others. Donations have arrived from across Northumberland County and beyond, each note sharing memories of practices, school projects, and brief chats in the checkout line that meant everything.

At school, counselors opened quiet spaces as students process the loss. Teachers remember Colson as the boy who welcomed newcomers, carried equipment unasked, and listened more than he spoke. In Trent Hills, vigils formed quickly, with hockey sticks on porches and baseball caps on fences, small gestures that speak loudly in rural communities built on daily connection and shared responsibility.

For American families in similar small towns, the tragedy highlights youth ATV safety. Experts in both countries recommend helmets every ride, adult supervision, certified training, and using age-appropriate machines. While officials continue their review, the guidance is consistent, steady habits on uneven terrain greatly lower the risk of rollovers and serious injury for young riders across North America.

Colson’s legacy is growing through action. Friends plan a summer baseball clinic in his name, the market is exploring a scholarship for student workers, and neighbors continue sharing stories that preserve his humor. Grief remains personal, but community provides direction, through showing up for youth sports, practicing daily kindness, and honoring a brief life that modeled generosity, respect, and joy for everyone nearby.