A 23-year-old woman has passed away due to a head injury sustained in a tragic incident at a Utah music festival over the weekend, her family reported on Monday.
Ava Ahlander was at the RedWest music festival with her friends in Salt Lake City on Saturday when severe weather conditions led to the event being evacuated, according to her uncle, Bobby Ahlander, who spoke to FOX13 Salt Lake City.
Ava and her friends headed to a car parked on a street outside the festival grounds to seek shelter, Salt Lake City Police said.
Ahlander said that was when the tragic accident occurred.
Ava Ahlander, 23, died Sunday after an accident near a music festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, her family said. (GoFundMe)
“Her friends said some big piece of wood plank just like flew threw the air and hit her in the head,” Ahlander said.
Authorities stated that Ava had exited the vehicle as intense winds caused a 2-foot by 12-foot scaffolding board from a nearby apartment under construction to be dislodged, the report detailed. The board fell from around 30 feet, hitting both Ahlander and the vehicle.
Ava’s uncle, Bobby Ahlander, said his niece loved concerts and was attending the festival with friends. (FOX13 Salt Lake City KSTU)
The 23-year-old was taken to a hospital, but doctors later declared her dead after determining the board had caused fatal damage to her brain stem, the family shared with the outlet.
Ahlander also confirmed Ava’s death in a statement on Facebook.
“As you can imagine, this news has been utterly devastating, and I am heartbroken,” he wrote. “Ava was a wonderful person, cherished by everyone. Her smile was infectious. She was a passionate concertgoer and had flown in from Seattle to see Post Malone with her friends. I love her dearly and will miss her greatly.”
Severe weather forced the festival to suspend activities and concertgoers to seek shelter. (FOX13 Salt Lake City KSTU)
A GoFundMe page described Ava as a “beautiful soul” with “kindness, warmth, and an adventurous spirit” that left a mark on those who knew her. It also mentioned that Ava was an organ donor.
“Even in her passing, Ava continues to give the gift of life to others as an organ donor—a final act of generosity that truly reflects her caring nature and desire to help those in need,” according to the page.
Ahlander reflected on his niece’s choice to become an organ donor to help others.
“I think that is so beautiful,” he told the station.
