Gavyn Sanford, 8, was pronounced dead on Dec. 16, 2018 following a car accident on autobahn A60 late Saturday night. His mother Latora, a staff sergeant stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, brother Grayson and father Gene were injured in the accident near the air base. (GoFundMe)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — The 8-year-old boy from Spangdahlem Air Base who died following a car crash Saturday has been identified as Gavyn Sanford, son of Staff Sgt. Latora Sanford and Gene Sanford.
Gene Sanford suffered major injuries in the crash but is in stable condition at Wittlich hospital, an Air Force statement said Tuesday.
Latora Sanford, of the 52nd Operations Support Squadron, and her other son, Grayson, suffered minor injuries.
A GoFundMe site to help the family had raised more than $17,000 by Tuesday afternoon. Many of the comments on the site showed deep affection for Gavyn and the family.
“Gavyn was one of my son’s best (friends),” Krizia Correa wrote. “We are so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.”
“Your family has been weighing heavy on my heart ever since I heard the news,” Shannon Williams wrote. “As a parent, it’s hard to understand the heartache you are going through, but I hope it brings you some peace and joy knowing Gavyn was loved and cared about by so many people. Leilani lost a dear friend.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation, Bitburg police spokesman Otmar Kaufmann said Monday.
It appears the car drove off the A60 autobahn at a curve and overturned several times at an embankment, he said. A truck driver at the scene called police to report the crash at 11:58 p.m. Saturday. Gavyn was pronounced dead at the scene early Sunday.
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