Popular Brockton Teacher, Coach Dies in Crash

The Brockton school system is in mourning following the unexpected death of a beloved teacher and soccer coach in a weekend car crash.

Police say a car driven by 61-year-old Hernani "Ernie" Branco veered off the side of a Norton road and struck a guardrail at about 2:40am Sunday. Branco was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kathleen Smith, superintendent of Brockton Public Schools, tells the Enterprise that Branco cared deeply about his students and players.

He worked as a teacher at East Middle School and was an assistant housemaster at Brockton High School.

He coached at Brockton high and Stonehill College.

[Associated Press]