YOUTUBE STAR TAKEN OF LIFE SUPPORT
THE TRAGEDY …
Andrew Cross, a 36-year-old YouTube star known as "Desert Drifter," passed away on March 4, 2025, after being taken off life support following a devastating car accident on January 31, 2025. The Colorado-based adventurer, who had garnered over 400,000 subscribers with his breathtaking videos of desert explorations and abandoned mines, was rear-ended at high speed while stopped at a traffic light in Grand Junction. The other driver, identified as 23-year-old Tremal T. Rucker, has been charged with vehicular homicide, with authorities alleging he was under the influence at the time of the crash. Cross sustained a traumatic brain injury, and despite weeks of intensive care, his family made the heart-wrenching decision to end life support after medical assessments offered little hope for recovery.
Cross’s journey from the accident to his final moments was marked by an outpouring of support from his community and beyond. Following the crash, he underwent emergency brain surgery to address a severe bleed, but subsequent complications, including strokes and pneumonia, compounded his condition. His sister, Jenna Spooner, shared updates via CaringBridge, detailing the family’s agonizing deliberations as they weighed options like long-term care or withdrawal of support. On March 3, 2025, they chose to let him go, with Spooner noting that Cross passed peacefully at 10:50 AM the next day, surrounded by his wife Evelyn, parents, and close friends. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $472,000 to cover medical costs, reflecting the deep connection fans felt to the man who inspired them with his fearless spirit and love for the outdoors.
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The loss of Andrew Cross has left a void in the YouTube community, where he was celebrated for his authenticity and passion as a former Grand Canyon tour guide turned digital storyteller. Tributes from fans flooded social media, with many praising his ability to bring remote landscapes to life and expressing grief over his untimely death. The tragedy also spotlighted the dangers of impaired driving, with Rucker’s charges underscoring a preventable cause behind Cross’s fate. As reported on March 6, 2025, his family found solace in their faith, believing “Andrew’s spirit is free, surrounded by light & love,” while his legacy endures through the videos that captured his adventurous soul and the lives he touched across the globe.