A tragic turn of events unfolded at the Redwest Music Festival in Salt Lake City as Ava Ahlander, a 23-year-old woman critically injured by debris amid a violent storm, passed away. A statement on a fundraising account, believed to be posted by her family, confirmed her death, detailing the heartbreaking loss and her final act of organ donation, as reported by Gephardt Daily. Ava, originally from American Fork, had been living in Seattle before returning to Utah to attend the music event with friends.
A heavy storm caused the festival to end prematurely on Saturday, prompting attendees, including Ahlander and her friends, to depart hastily. According to KSLTV, Ava was struck by a large plank dislodged from nearby scaffolding by high winds, resulting in critical injuries that led to her being transported to an area hospital. An outpouring of grief from her uncle, Bobby Ahlander, over her passing was expressed in their report. "Honestly, it’s been excruciating. The grief and the sorrow, and of course, it’s such a big surprise; and it’s just such a huge loss," he said, as per KSLTV.
The incident occurred near an apartment complex under construction, where Ahlander was attempting to enter her car when the fatal impact occurred. KGW described the accident as a 'freak occurrence' that has left her family and friends searching for answers and solace. Ava's love for music festivals and her vibrant spirit were fondly remembered by her close friend and coworker, Amber Davis, who looked forward to reuniting with her.
"She was so excited before she left," Davis told KGW, reflecting on Ahlander's anticipation for the festival. The local community is now banding together to support a GoFundMe account set up to cover funeral expenses, as well as necessary counseling for her family and friends present during the unfortunate incident.
