A 22-year-old World Cup security worker who died after being struck by a driver near SoFi Stadium could now help save several lives through organ donation.
Aaron Avery had recently started working security at SoFi Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He was walking home after his second day on the job when a driver struck him on Van Ness Avenue, according to his family.
The collision happened shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Monday, June 15. Avery died from his injuries the following day.
A Young Life Cut Short
Avery’s relatives said they never imagined his new job would end in tragedy. His aunt, Norma Quinn, described the loss as crushing.
“He was just so young,” Quinn said. She also spoke about the pain of knowing what her nephew endured after the collision.
Avery had been working his second shift as a security officer during the World Cup. SoFi Stadium is hosting several matches during the international tournament.
Family Gathers for Final Goodbye
On Saturday, June 20, Avery’s relatives gathered at OneLegacy in Azusa to honor his decision to become an organ donor.
Staff members lined the hallway as doctors moved Avery toward the operating room. His family walked beside him and said their final goodbyes during the emotional honor walk.
His family said Avery donated his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. The number of recipients helped will depend on medical matching and the suitability of each organ.
Federal organ-donation information states that one donor can save as many as eight lives and improve more than 75 others through organ and tissue donation.
Family Finds Comfort in His Final Gift
Quinn said the donation gave the family a measure of comfort during an otherwise devastating moment.
“I know this is our final goodbye, but at the same time, I know that something good is going to come out of it,” she said.
She said each recipient would carry part of Avery with them. Quinn also remembered her nephew’s love of video games, joking that he might turn the recipients into gamers.
Thousands Await Transplants
More than 103,000 children and adults are on the national transplant waiting list, according to the federal government’s organ-donation website.
About 17 people die each day while waiting for an organ. Another person joins the national waiting list approximately every eight minutes.
Donate Life California reports that almost 20,000 Californians are awaiting transplants. About 90 percent need a kidney.
People from racial and ethnic minority communities represent more than half of the national waiting list. Shared ethnicity is not required for an organ match, but a larger and more diverse donor registry can improve the chances of finding compatible donors.
Driver Reportedly Detained
Avery’s family said the driver was detained on suspicion of driving under the influence. Authorities had not publicly announced a conviction or final determination of impairment when the family discussed the case.
The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation. Any allegation against the driver remains unproven unless prosecutors file charges and the case is resolved in court.
Fundraiser Created for Avery’s Family
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help Avery’s family cover medical and other final expenses.
His relatives are remembering a young man whose life ended only days after he began a new opportunity. Through organ donation, they hope his final act of generosity will give several other families more time with their loved ones.