Brendan Burke, the youngest son of Toronto Maple Leafs manager Brian Burke, who recently made international news with his coming out story, died yesterday in an apparently weather-related car accident in Indiana, the Pal-Item reports:

"Heavy accumulations of snowfall on Friday rendered area roads
treacherous and claimed the lives of two people, injuring others and
sparking a string of slideoffs and fender benders. Brendan Burke, 21, Canton, Mass., and Mark A. Reedy, 18, Bloomfield
Hills, Mich., died at the scene of a two-vehicle accident at U.S. 35
north of Economy. The accident was reported at 2:50 p.m.Investigators said Burke was driving eastbound on
U.S. 35 in a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee when, according to witnesses, the
vehicle slid sideways into an oncoming 1997 Ford Truck driven by
24-year-old Michael Moreland of Lynn. Moreland was not hurt."

The Toronto Maple Leafs released a statement last night:

Statement From The Toronto Maple Leafs:

The Toronto Maple Leafs are saddened to report that Brendan Burke, the
youngest son of Leafs President and General Manager Brian Burke,
succumbed to injuries he suffered in an auto accident earlier today in
Indiana.

Statement From Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment:

Richard Peddie, president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf
Sports & Entertainment, issued the following statement regarding the
passing of Brendan Burke, son of Maple Leafs' General Manager Brian
Burke:

“On behalf of the entire Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment family, we
extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Brian
Burke. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Burke family during this
extremely difficult time.”

The Burke family asks for privacy at this difficult time.

Thank you.

Statement From Commissioner Gary Bettman:

National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman tonight released this
statement following the announcement that Brendan Burke, son of Toronto
Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, had passed away:

“The National Hockey League grieves tonight for the family and friends
of Brendan Burke, a young man of courage and character. Words simply
cannot express our sorrow over his loss. We send our deepest, most
heartfelt condolences to Brendan's father, Brian; his mother, Kerry;
everyone in Brendan's family and all who were inspired by his love for
hockey.”