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“Toby was everything you hope for in a student-athlete and an even better person,” his head coach at UMass Lowell wrote.
A member of the University of Massachusetts Lowell men’s soccer team was killed in a car crash over the weekend, school officials announced.
“Although Toby’s time as a River Hawk was cut far too short, he left a meaningful impact and will always be remembered as a cherished member of our UMass Lowell family,” Director of Athletics for UMass Lowell Lynn Coutts said in an online announcement from the school’s athletics department.
Tobias Forsythe, known as Toby, was killed in a July 5 crash in his home state of Ohio, the athletics department wrote.
Early Sunday morning, Forsythe’s car was rear ended by a semi truck, a local outlet reported. The truck’s driver, Asrarov Bekhzod, is charged with tampering with evidence; he allegedly removed his truck’s dashboard camera and tried to hide it from police in his pocket after the crash, local news station WSYX reported.
Forsythe, a goalkeeper, played soccer for two seasons at Ashland University, then transferred to Shawnee State for one season, then transferred to UMass Lowell for the spring 2026 season, the athletics department wrote. At UMass, he majored in economics.
“Toby was everything you hope for in a student-athlete and an even better person. He was humble, honest, selfless and the definition of hard work. Every single day, he showed up ready to compete, improve and do whatever was asked of him,” UMass Lowell men’s head soccer coach Kyle Zenoni said in the school’s announcement.
Forsythe, 21, is survived by his mother, stepfather, brother, and sister, alongside other family members, loved ones wrote in his obituary.
“Tobias will be remembered for his charismatic nature, his undying care for his friends and family, and his unrelenting love for Jesus,” the obituary reads.
In a social media post, Shawnee State men’s soccer remembered Forsyth as an ambitious athlete whose influence extended beyond the field.
“You had a fire in you that could not be ignored. You were loud, you demanded more, and you refused to let anyone settle for less than they were capable of,” the team wrote. “Your impact was far greater than the game. You gave people memories they will carry for the rest of their lives.”
Funeral services for Forsythe will be held in Ohio, according to his obituary.
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