REDWEST Music Festival Faces Severe Weather (Facebook/Redwest Music Festival) Remembering Ava Ahlander (GoFundMe)
A 23-Year-Old Woman Has Died After Attending A Music Festival
A 23-year-old Seattle woman who was injured while seeking shelter during the REDWEST music festival in Salt Lake City, Utah, has died, according to her family.
The event at the Utah State Fair Park was paused Saturday (October 11) around 5:15 p.m. due to severe weather.
Salt Lake City Police said the woman had gone to her car, parked near the venue, to escape the storm. Her family identified her as Ava Ahlander through a GoFundMe page.
Officials told Fox 13 Salt Lake City that after stepping out of her car, the young woman was struck by a 2″x12″ scaffolding board that had been blown from a nearby construction site.
“It just hit her in the head…in the neck. It was hard. It was fast,” Ava’s 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.”
Ahlander shared that Ava and her friends had flown in from Seattle to see Post Malone, who was headlining Saturday, perform at the festival.
Ava’s loved ones shared that she was a “beautiful soul” who always desired to help others in need.
“Ava was a beautiful soul whose kindness, warmth, and adventurous spirit touched everyone around her. 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 GoFundMe read.
Severe Storm Rolls Through Salt Lake City
The REDWEST music festival alerted fans via social media Saturday (October 11) that the concert was paused due to “severe weather.”
“Please follow the direction of event staff, gather your belongings, exit the venue, and take shelter. We will provide more information shortly, stay tuned to the festival app and socials for updates,” the caption read, later commenting that the festival was under “complete evacuation.”
The festival later cancelled the rest of the night’s performances, and told fans that their tickets would be rolled over to the next day.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ava’s family during this unimaginable time.
