SALT LAKE CITY — A tragic incident during a stormy weekend on the Wasatch Front has claimed the life of 23-year-old Ava Ahlander, leaving her family and friends heartbroken. Ava, who had been living in the Pacific Northwest for several years, was originally from American Fork and a proud graduate of American Fork High School.
The weekend was meant to be a joyous occasion for Ava as she reunited with loved ones and enjoyed the RedWest country music festival. However, the festivities took a devastating turn when severe weather prompted an evacuation of the area.
According to her uncle, Bobby Ahlander, the incident occurred around 5 PM on Saturday when Ava and her friends sought shelter by their parked car. Tragically, as they were doing so, a sudden gust of wind sent large scaffolding and debris into the air, and a wooden plank struck Ava in the head. Emergency responders quickly rushed her to the hospital, but it was soon revealed that the injury had crushed her brain stem. Despite medical efforts and life support, Ava was pronounced dead on Sunday night.
“This is absolutely awful,” Bobby expressed. “Her life ended while she was doing exactly what she loved to do.”
In reflecting on her legacy, Bobby shared that Ava had made the selfless decision to become an organ donor a few years prior. “Now, many people are going to benefit from that, and I just think that’s so beautiful,” he said, emphasizing the positive impact Ava’s choice will have on others.
In response to the tragedy, a fundraiser has been established to assist Ava’s family with medical and funeral expenses, and to provide grief counseling for her friends who witnessed the traumatic event. “They are beside themselves,” Bobby stated, recalling the frantic moments in the aftermath. “They were trying to do CPR on her, calling 9-1-1, so we want to help them as well.”
While this loss is profoundly heartbreaking, Ava Ahlander’s spirit and decision to help others through organ donation will continue to resonate, leaving a lasting impact on many lives.