NEED TO KNOW
- A 23-year-old woman died in a freak accident on leaving the REDWEST Country Music in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday, Oct. 11
- Ava Ahlander returned to her car when the festival was called off due to bad weather, but was tragically struck by a windblown scaffolding board from a nearby construction site
- “Ava was an absolute delight of a human being. Everyone loved her,” her family said in a statement to Fox 13 Salt Lake City
A woman has died after being struck by windblown debris following the REDWEST Country Music Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, Ava Ahlander, 23, went to her car near 1055 W. North Temple after the festival was cancelled due to bad weather, according to Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
However, officials told the outlet that Ava was hit by a 2″x12″ scaffolding board, which was blown from a nearby construction site after stepping out of her car.
“It just hit her in the head… in the neck. It was hard. It was fast,” her uncle Bobby Ahlander told KUTV. “The doctors said after they were able to get her stable and do a CT scan that it basically crushed her brain stem.”
Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 5:15 p.m. before Ahlander was transported to the hospital in a critical, life-threatening condition, Fox 13 Salt Lake City and KSL TV reported.
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The music lover had travelled with friends from Seattle to Salt Lake City for the festival, but due to the storm, attendees were told to take shelter, per KUTV. Concertgoers were also seen running to hide from the rain and lightning.
On Monday, Ava was confirmed to have died from her injuries.
Describing the incident as a “freak accident,” Bobby Ahlander told KSLTV that while Ava was revived, she was put on life support after losing brain activity and subsequently passed away after her family said their goodbyes.
“Ava was an absolute delight of a human being. Everyone loved her,” her family said in a statement to Fox 13 Salt Lake City. “She was an avid concert goer and had flown in from Seattle to go see Post Malone with her friends.”
A GoFundMe page has so far raised $16,766 out of a $18,000 goal to help with the “cost of a memorial celebration, burial costs, medical bills, and counseling services for those affected by Ava’s loss,” per the dedication.
“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,” the description read.
PEOPLE has contacted the Salt Lake City Police and REDWEST for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
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