A tragic turn of events has cast a dark shadow over Utah’s REDWEST Festival after a fan was killed during the event’s evacuation amid severe weather. The festival, which featured Post Malone as a headliner, was forced to clear out as storms rolled in over the weekend.
According to FOX 13, the victim was 23 year old Ava Ahlander, who had travelled from Seattle to see Post Malone perform. As thousands of attendees made their way to safety, Ahlander was reportedly struck by a 2×12-inch piece of scaffolding that came loose from a nearby construction site. The impact occurred after she briefly stepped out of her car while evacuating the grounds.
Her uncle, Bobby Ahlander, told KUTV that the blow was catastrophic. ‘It just hit her in the head… in the neck. It was hard. It was fast,’ he said. ‘The doctors said after they were able to get her stable and do a CT scan that it basically crushed her brain stem.’
Ava was rushed to hospital with life threatening injuries but sadly passed away soon after, her family described her as ‘an absolute delight of a human being. Everyone loved her,’ and shared that she was ‘an avid concertgoer’ whose kindness and adventurous spirit defined her life.
GoFundMe for Memorial and Medical costs
A GoFundMe launched by the family to help cover memorial and medical costs quickly surpassed its initial $15,000 USD goal, with remaining funds set to be donated to a charity in her name. ‘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,’ reads the campaign description. If you can help out, please do.
As of publication, REDWEST Festival organisers and Post Malone have not released public statements regarding the incident.
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