Thorndale community in mourning after teen dies in collision

Seventeen-year-old Gavin DeClark of Thorndale was killed in a collision near Medway High School in Arva on Sept. 29.

By Nancy Abra

The DeClark family of Thorndale is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Gavin DeClark, a 17-year-old whose life was tragically cut short in a collision on Medway Road Sept. 29.

Emergency crews responded shortly after 1 p.m. to the crash site between Adelaide Street North and Richmond Street, just east of Medway High School in Arva. Middlesex OPP reported an SUV traveling eastbound crossed the centre line and collided with a westbound grain truck. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

Gavin DeClark, a beloved son of Blake and Lynndsay DeClark, big brother to sister Chyler, friends to many and student at Medway High School, lived in Thorndale with his family. According to his obituary, he was known for his kind heart and caring nature, and he always put others before himself. He had a great sense of humour and found joy in fishing, reading, listening to music and playing video games with his friends. He brought warmth and compassion to every life he touched.

In the days following his death, the outpouring of love for Gavin DeClark from the Thorndale and Medway High School communities has been overwhelming. Hundreds gathered on the football field at Medway High School for a candlelight vigil to honour his memory.

Friends, classmates, the school community and neighbours stood shoulder to shoulder, holding candles and sharing stories that painted a vivid picture of a young man who made the world brighter simply by being in it.

Through his tears, Gavin DeClark’s father, Blake DeClark, addressed the crowd with grace and gratitude, thanking everyone for their support. He encouraged them to support each in their grief and to keep his son’s spirit alive by remembering the joy he brought into their lives.

“Remember him so he will not be forgotten,” Blake DeClark said.

As the community continues to grapple with the loss, Gavin DeClark’s legacy lives on in the laughter he shared, the kindness he showed and the love he inspired. Thorndale stands united with the DeClark family in grief and in love.