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The 21-year-old Mountain View man who died in a solo car crash in Cupertino early Friday morning was a well-liked former football star at Los Altos High School who possibly fell asleep at the wheel.
Kyle Simpson had just returned home from Army training before the crash. On the night of the accident, friends say, he had just left his job as a security guard at a South Bay bar and grill and was still adjusting to the time difference from his travels. At around 2 a.m. he lost control of his Ford SUV, which rolled multiple times on northbound Highway 280 in Cupertino.
On the Voice’s Town Square, friends described Simpson as “an amazing person whose life was cut way too short.” People fondly used nicknames — “Pinky” and “Big Red” — and friend Shannon Ingersoll said Simpson’s “contagious smile, red hair and freckles will always be missed.”
“He was just an awesome human being,” said Loura Kobza, mother of one of Simpson’s close friends. “He touched every person he came across. Life is not going to be the same without Kyle.”
Many faculty and students at Los Altos High mourned his passing, including former teacher Betty Ewing, who said she had plans to meet him for dinner this week. On Friday night, Simpson’s friends gathered to pay him tribute on the side of Highway 280 where the crash occurred.
At 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Simpson played three years of varsity football at Los Altos High and played briefly for San Jose Community College. He joined the Army after one year of college and attained the rank of specialist. On his Facebook page, where he had 596 friends, he is pictured proudly in his Army fatigues.
Funeral services have been scheduled for Thursday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at Cusimano Colonial Mortuary at 96 W. El Camino Real. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 31 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the mortuary’s chapel.
To Peggy and Tyler,
My family and I are so sorry for you loss and our condolences go out to the both of you. We cant imagine the pain that you both are enduring. My family and I knew Kyle through my brother Noni, they played football at Los Altos High together. My brother always had such a good time when he was with kyle. Kyle was always so nice and kind to all of us. He will be forever in our hearts. R.I.P Kyle, you will be forever missed.
From The Arellanes Family
My heart goes out to this family. What a very sad thing to happen. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Peggy and Tyler,
My heart is so deeply wounded for you both. It is also wounded for us for he was ours as well.
Kyle was as much a part of my family as my own grandchidlren; He was an integral part of Jemiah’s life. I loved him and treated him as my ‘grandson’ as well, so I was ‘Nana’ to him along with Jemiah and many of their friends.
Kyle was a sweetheart and I, personally, will miss him so much. He spent Thanksgiving, last year, with us at my invitation. When he was visiting one day just before the holiday, I asked him what he was doing for Thanksgiving and he shared that he wasn’t sure since he was working, he probably would not get a chance to have Thanksgiving with all of you. I told him it was a ‘given’ then that he would come to our family Thanksgiving dinner at my daughter, Tracey’s, whom he also knew so well. He did come with Jemiah, and he was as usual his lively, joy filled self. We had a wonderful time with him and I am so very glad to have shared that day along with other days during he and Jemiah’s school time together.
If there is anything at all that I can do, please let me know via Jemiah. You, Tyler and your family are certainly in my prayers.
Minette Warren
Jemiah Boston’s Nana
RIP Soldier,
Your life was definitely cut too short. We need people like you around more and more these days. But the Lord had other plans for you
in heaven. May God bless your family in this time of grief, may his arms wrap around them to give them comfort and peace.
Peace be with you!
Rob707
The world has lost a good man.