A devastating car crash took athlete Gavin Cornia’s life on November 26, 2025, at a young age of 20, while his wife Katie survived and remains in critical condition, fighting for her life in the ICU.
Above all, he was only in his early twenties, newly married, just starting with the girl he loved.
Gavin Cornia is survived by his wife, Katie Cornia; parents, Samantha Engman Cornia and Nate Cornia; and 5 siblings.
He leaves behind his sister-in-law, Britney Petersen, and his extended family.
Although his wife, Katie, is alive, she is fighting for her life in the ICU with injuries that will take months, maybe longer, to heal.
Tragically, Gavin and Katie had tied the knot just 7 months ago in April 2025.
They were building their life together, full of plans and dreams. Then, in one second on a regular Wednesday, everything changed.
While Katie is in the ICU right now, the Doctors fixed her broken femur on the very night of the crash, i.e., on November 26, 2025.
The following day, i.e., yesterday on November 27, 2025, doctors found her humerus was broken too. Hence, she has another surgery today, i.e., November 28, 2025.
Similarly, Katie also has a serious neck fracture at C2, cracked ribs, a broken shoulder blade, bruised lungs, burns, and cuts everywhere.
When she finally gets out of the hospital, she’ll go straight to a recovery center for weeks.
The medical bills are already huge, and they will only grow. Hence, Katie’s sister, Britney Petersen, started a GoFundMe called “Help Katie Recover and Honor Gavin’s Memory.”
The collected amount is to help pay for the hospital, surgeries, funeral, and whatever comes next for Katie, including funeral and life expenses, as she grieves and tries to put her life back together without the man she just married.
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People who knew Gavin knew he was kind and a type of kid who made everyone around him feel better.
In school, he and another boy named Gavin were the “two Gavins” on every basketball and football team, and they were buddies for years.
Heather Skousen Doney, the mother of his friend with the same name, “Gavin,” penned a tribute post expressing her grief, which reads:
I have so much to be grateful for. And at the same time my heart is breaking for my friends as they mourn the loss of their son, nephew, grandson, and brother. Gavin Cornia has been one of my Gavin’s buddies since he was in middle school.
Heather Skousen Doney
They were the double “Gavins” on every team they played on together in basketball and football. He was amazing at sports and the kindest young man you will ever meet.
Thus far, details surrounding Gavin’s funeral and memorial have yet to be published by his family as they are grieving his loss.
During this challenging time, we pray for the strength of Gavin’s wife, parents, siblings, friends, teammates, and extended family.
Rest In Heavenly Peace, Gavin Cornia!
