The North Texas music community is mourning one of its brightest talents. Erick Del Campo, the popular DJ known on stage as DJ Avenger, died early Saturday, June 7, 2026, from injuries sustained in a car crash on U.S. Highway 80 in Mesquite, Texas — just hours after he checked off the biggest gig of his career. He was 44.
Del Campo had spent Friday night, June 6, behind the decks at Globe Life Field in Arlington, spinning for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Guardians matchup. It was his first Major League Baseball performance, a moment his family says he had been chasing his entire adult life. Roughly four hours after the final out, the celebration ended in tragedy.
A Dream Night at Globe Life Field
Playing music for his home team was, according to his loved ones, a lifelong dream. Del Campo had already built a sturdy reputation across North Texas, performing regularly at Texas Live! in Arlington and working games at the American Airlines Center. But Friday night at Globe Life Field was different — it was the milestone he had been working toward for years.
His younger brother, Mike Del Campo, said music was always in Erick’s blood, even when they were kids sharing a house and a bedtime routine.
“I would be asleep, getting ready for school the next day, and he’d be up having his headphones on and I’d hear the music,” Mike recalled.
That dedication carried him from late-night practice sessions to some of the biggest stages in the region — and finally, to a Major League ballpark.
The Crash on U.S. Highway 80
Family members said Del Campo was heading home after the Friday night performance when his car collided with another vehicle on U.S. Highway 80. Mesquite Police were notified of the crash at 2:29 a.m. on Saturday. Both drivers were transported to Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for treatment, where Del Campo later died from his injuries.
The condition of the other driver has not been made public. The Mesquite Police Department is investigating the cause of the collision, and no additional details have been released.
For Del Campo’s family, the timing has made the loss especially difficult to absorb. The crash came just hours after one of the proudest moments of his career — a juxtaposition his brother is still struggling to process.
“I’m like in shock just like everybody else,” Mike said, according to reports. “Erick, just know I love you, man.”
Remembered as a Family Man First
A resident of Mesquite, Del Campo is survived by his wife, his daughter, and his younger brother. Friends across the North Texas entertainment scene described him as someone whose impact reached well beyond the booth — a husband, father, brother, and friend who put others first.
Those who worked alongside him often pointed to his generosity. “He was the epitome of that guy that would give you the shirt off his back,” one friend said. Others recalled his faith and family-first approach, qualities they say defined both his personal life and his career.
Del Campo’s brother described him as a God-fearing man who poured that same conviction into everything he touched, which is part of why he connected with audiences and venue staff so easily. Friends say he was electric on stage and funny off it — the kind of presence that made a room feel warmer the second he walked in.
A Tragic Weekend for Texas Baseball
Del Campo’s death was the start of what turned out to be a painful weekend for the Texas baseball community. One day later, on Sunday, June 8, a private jet crashed in the Dominican Republic. The aircraft had been flying to Austin, Texas, to pick up former MLB star Yadier Molina and his family. Molina and his family were safely waiting in Texas at the time, but the crash added another layer of sorrow to an already difficult stretch of days.
Back in North Texas, friends have launched a GoFundMe to support Del Campo’s wife and daughter as they navigate the road ahead. Those closest to him said the fundraiser is about more than finances — it’s about making sure the family he adored is wrapped in the same kind of care he showed others throughout his life.
For many in the music community, DJ Avenger’s legacy won’t be measured by the venues he played or the crowds he entertained. It will be measured in how he treated people — the warmth he brought to every booking, the loyalty he showed his friends, and the love he poured into his family. He reached his biggest career goal on a Friday night in Arlington, and he’ll be remembered for both the music and the kindness that came with it.