What should have been a normal walk home turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for 22-year-old Aaron Avery.
The young World Cup worker had just wrapped up a shift at SoFi Stadium following the FIFA World Cup match between Iran and New Zealand. It was supposed to be another exciting night surrounded by the energy and excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event. Instead, it became the last night of his life.
According to family members, Aaron was walking home around 10:30 p.m. Monday near Van Ness Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected drunk driver.
The cruel reality is difficult to comprehend.
Aaron wasn’t out partying, he wasn’t taking dangerous risks, he wasn’t looking for trouble. He was simply heading home after a hard day’s work.
“This is a very devastating moment for my family,” his aunt Norma Quinn told CBS News.
“He was my sister’s baby. It’s very devastating.”
Avery’s family believed the driver was speeding and was under the influence.
“From what I was told, it was a strong possibility that speed played a part in it, and the guy was under the influence,” Quinn told the outlet.
The driver claimed that he couldn’t see Avery because it was nighttime and he was wearing all black, according to the family.
“You say you didn’t see my brother walking because he had on all black,” Avery’s sister, Monique Yates said.
“It don’t matter what color he had on. That can’t be an excuse on why you hit somebody.”
What makes this tragedy even more painful is how ordinary the circumstances were. Aaron had done everything right. He worked his shift. He clocked out. He started walking home.
Avery was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and suffered a traumatic brain injury, according to a GoFundMe page.
The family, who said they are facing significant end-of-life expenses, medical bills, and funeral costs, have so far raised more than $5,000.
He was placed on life support and pronounced dead the next day.
Avery donated his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys according to ABC 7, which could potentially save up to 8 lives.
The family said the driver was arrested and hopes he is held accountable for his actions.
“I just hope my nephew gets justice,” Quinn told CBS.
As World Cup fans continue to celebrate goals, victories, and unforgettable moments, Aaron Avery’s family is left carrying a different memory of the tournament. One filled with heartbreak, loss, and a young life that should have had many more years ahead of it.
