Aaron Avery, 22, had been walking home from the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on June 15 when the incident occurred
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- Aaron Avery, 22, has died after being hit by a car while walking home from his second day as a 2026 World Cup security guard at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Monday, June 15
- The driver was arrested at the scene after allegedly showing signs of impairment, police said, per local outlets
- Avery had been working the game between Iran and New Zealand before the incident occurred, per KTLA 5
A security guard working the 2026 World Cup has died after a driver reportedly crashed into him following his shift in California.
Aaron Avery, 22, had been walking home from his second day on the job at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Monday, June 15 when the incident occurred, according to CBS News and KABC. He had been working the game between Iran and New Zealand, per KTLA 5.
A driver crashed into the victim at around 10:30 p.m. local time near the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and 104th Street, KTLA 5 reported.
Credit: Go Fund Me
Avery lived just two miles away from the stadium, CBS News stated, citing his family.
The Inglewood Police Department told the outlet that the driver stayed at the scene, and he was arrested after he "displayed symptoms consistent with being impaired."
PEOPLE had reached out to Inglewood police for additional information, but didn't immediately hear back. PEOPLE has also contacted Avery's family for a tribute.
Avery’s aunt, Norma Quinn, claimed to KTLA 5 that after her late nephew was hit, his body was dragged half a block down the street. She said he “was almost to the curb when he was struck.”
After the incident, Avery was transported to the hospital, but was pronounced brain dead the following afternoon, the outlet reported.
"This is a very devastating moment for my family," Quinn told CBS News. "He was my sister's baby. It's very devastating."
Credit: Go Fund Me
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Avery's family with costs including medical and funeral bills and end-of-life expenses.
Avery was described on the page as “a caring and dedicated son who loved helping his community."
“His involvement with the World Cup was a source of pride for him and his family,” the description read.
Avery’s sister, Monique Yates, told KTLA 5 that her younger brother “was around to make ordinary days feel better," adding, "He loved being around family. No hesitation, you needed help with something he was always there.”
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Avery's organs were donated at OneLegacy in Azusa on Saturday to help others, KABC reported, stating that relatives gathered to honor him before saying their goodbyes.
The nonprofit organization told KABC that Avery's donation could potentially help save up to eight lives.
"He will be donating his lungs, his heart, his kidneys, his spleen and his liver," Quinn told CBS News. "He gets to save another life."
"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 added to KABC, before joking, "They'll have a part of him, and maybe he can turn them into gamers.”
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