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INGLEWOOD, Calif. () — A 22-year-old man who had just started a new job working security at SoFi Stadium for the World Cup died after being struck by a driver while walking home, his family said.
Aaron Avery was hit just before 10:30 p.m. Monday on Van Ness Avenue. He died the following day.
Avery had been on his second day working as a security officer when the crash occurred.
“I’m crushed because this was the last thing we would have ever thought would happen,” said Norma Quinn, Avery’s aunt. “He was just so young … to know that he had to endure that.”
On Saturday, relatives gathered at OneLegacy in Azusa to honor Avery by donating his organs. Staff lined the hallway as doctors wheeled his body into the operating room, while family members said their goodbyes.
Avery donated his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. OneLegacy said his donation could potentially save up to eight lives.
“There’s over 100,000 folks across the nation, nearly 19,000 Californians, who are waiting for a life-saving organ,” said Blanca Cohen of OneLegacy. “Unfortunately, all too many folks pass away each day waiting for that gift.”
The need is especially great among Black patients. Last year, Black Americans made up 27% of candidates on the national transplant waitlist, with most waiting for kidneys, while only 15% of registered donors were Black. Experts say that a common barrier for people of color to becoming organ donors is historic medical distrust.
Avery’s family said they find comfort in knowing his generosity could help others.
“I know this is our final goodbye but at the same time, I know that something good is going to come out of it,” Quinn said. “They’ll have a part of him and maybe he can turn them into gamers. Haha.”
The family said the driver who struck Avery has been detained for possibly driving under the influence. A GoFundMe has been created to help cover his final medical expenses.
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