YouTuber Andrew Cross dies aged 36, weeks after car accident

Andrew Cross, known to his YouTube following as "Desert Drifter," died on Tuesday after being taken off life support after suffering a major brain damage in a vehicle accident last month. He was 36.

Cross' death was revealed in a statement on CaringBridge.com, which stated that he passed away quietly.

“Before removing Andrew from life support yesterday, they put him on a mobile ventilator and walked a loop around the whole ICU while all the available staff lined the hallway as a way to honor him,” the post read. “Then in the room, friends and family read scripture, prayed, and sang during the process of removing life support and for over an hour afterwards.  It was peaceful and beautiful.”

Jenna Spooner, the Virginia-born, Colorado-based adventurer's sister, stated that his death 'was calm and full of love in the room with (his wife) Evelyn by his side, his parents, and close friends around.'

“It’s a big loss for all of us, and we’re immensely grateful for your steadfast support and prayers. Throughout all of this, it’s been our heart to stay full of faith, so we wouldn’t look back and wonder ‘what if…’  Thank you for walking in that with us.”

She then thanked their community for their "steadfast support and prayers" following his passing, as a GoFundMe campaign was set up to assist with the Cross family's medical expenditures, raising $479,491 in donations.

"Andrew really lived life to the fullest, and his story & impact isn’t over yet.  It’s been wonderful to get to know him in new ways as we’ve seen photos and stories shared by so many," she wrote before concluding the lengthy tribute to Cross, who was famously known as "Desert Drifter" online.

"We look forward to more of that as we honor a life well lived," the post concluded.

On Wednesday, the Mesa County Coroner's Office in Colorado reported that Cross died of "injuries sustained in a'severe' two-car accident on January 31, when he was rear-ended at high speed while waiting at a stoplight."

Cross joined YouTube in November 2023, making over 50 videos and gaining 474,000 subscribers.