‘Like a big brother to everybody.’ UK employee killed in car wreck was beloved teammate
The University of Kentucky employee and Lexington man who was killed in a car crash recently was known as a caring, supportive man as well as a big football fan, according to friends and family who knew him.
Justin Brindley, 33, died Sunday in Henry County. Kentucky State Police said he was driving a Nissan passenger car when it went off the left side of the road for an unknown reason and struck a tree. He was declared dead on scene.
Brindley played on a semi-pro football team based out of Danville called Kentucky Insanity. He played for the team’s inaugural season in 2022 and was an offensive guard and special teams player.
Rodney Hall, one of Brindley’s former coaches, described him as a “Rudy” for the team, comparing him to the main character in the underdog football movie called “Rudy.”
“He’s just a non-stop character that gives everything he has for whoever his friends are,” Hall said. “He’s a Rudy for any team he plays for.”
Brindley proved to be a great teammate on numerous occasions. Donald Hernandez, a former teammate of Brindley’s said he would help cover the registration fees for other players or drive teammates to and from practice.
“Brindley was an awesome guy,” Hernandez said. “He was like a big brother to everybody.”
Hall also noticed Brindley’s desire to be a good teammate as well as his motivation to be a good player.
“He was so charismatic about wanting us to watch him block,” Hall said. “He’d run down, get a block and go, ‘coach did you see that?’ He’d make a highlight film of himself on Hudl and stuff like that.”
Brindley was a Tates Creek High School graduate and a UK employee, working as a heating/cooling plant operator. Brindley also participated in the Special Olympics.
“While Justin has been away from our program for several years pursuing other interests, we know he still has many friends in Special Olympics,” the Special Olympics said in a statement to the Herald-Leader. “Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former teammates at this difficult time.”
Brindley also liked caring for animals and participating in war reenactments. His sister, Marinda Beasley, said he had a huge personality and liked to make people laugh.
“If Justin was in a room, everyone knew Justin was there,” Beasley said.
Brindley’s funeral is going to be Alabama football themed, paying homage to his favorite team. Hall and Hernandez said his teammates are going to show up to the funeral in their football jerseys.
“I bought him a new jersey and we’re going to walk out to the Alabama fight song,” Beasley said.
The team will also honor Brindley with customized patches sewn into their jerseys when they play their bowl game on Nov. 11.
This story was originally published September 28, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
