A Utah woman has been killed in a freak accident which unfolded moments after she sought safety from a brutal storm during a music festival, a lawsuit has revealed.
Ava Ahlander, 23, evacuated the Redwest Country Music Festival in Salt Lake City with a crowd of other concertgoers after the severe weather hit on October 11.
The American Fork native ran to her car in a nearby parking lot, which was located by the Kier Construction Co. site, and sat inside as she sheltered from 60mph winds.
However, after finding refuge in the vehicle, she briefly stepped out and was immediately struck down by a wooden plank which fell from 30 feet above her.
Ahlander was left severely injured from the impact, and she died from her injuries two days later.
Now, her heartbroken parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the construction company for 'creating hazards' that led to their daughter's death, according to the legal filing seen by the Daily Mail.
The complaint, filed on Wednesday in Utah Third District Court, alleges that Kier Construction Co. failed to 'remedy or remove hazards from the construction site' before the festival took place at Utah State Fairpark that day.
Her parents, Richard Ahlander and Mary Harrison, are seeking relief for claims, including wrongful death, liability, and negligence from the company. The music festival was not named in the lawsuit.
Eric Olson, the family's lawyer, said it was the construction company's responsibility to ensure the area was secure at all times.
Ava Ahlander, 23, tragically died on October 11, 2025, after she was hit in the head by a flying wooden plank while attending the Redwest country music festival in Salt Lake City, Utah
During the music festival, attendees were instructed to rush to safety as extreme weather conditions arrived. Ahlander ran to her car, but when she briefly got out, she was hit with the flying debris
Olson told The Salt Lake Tribune 'construction sites that are in a populated area with people next door, whether it's walking by on the sidewalk or on a neighboring property, they've got to be properly maintained and protected, so that the public doesn't get hurt.'
Ahlander's parents are seeking damages for an undisclosed amount that is set to be determined at trial.
Those damages would include the cost of medical and funeral expenses.
Other than getting justice for their beloved daughter, Olson said her family wants to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.
'It's something that should have never happened and there are code requirements ... that specifically require contractors to take these sort of precautions,' he told the outlet.
Olson added: 'The family doesn't think this ever should have happened. They don't ever want it to happen again.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Kier Construction Co. and Olson for comment.
Ahlander has been described as 'a beautiful soul whose kindness, warmth and adventurous spirit touched everyone around her,' a GoFundMe page created after her death stated.
Now her heartbroken parents have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the construction company for 'creating hazards' that led to their daughter's death
Ahlander's death came after she was hit by a wooden plank being used by Kier Construction Co. site. The company's headquarters is pictured above. The Daily Mail has contacted the firm
The page also revealed that she donated her organs after she passed, something her family said was her 'final act of generosity that truly reflects her caring nature and desire to help those in need.'
The fundraiser has since been paused, but more than $34,000 was raised to help her family with medical bills, funeral expenses, a memorial celebration of life, and counselling.
Any leftover donations were donated to charity in Ahlander's name, her family wrote, adding that it extended 'her legacy of compassion.'
According to her uncle, Bobby, Ahlander was an 'avid concert goer' who flew in from Seattle, Washington, to see the festival's headliner, Post Malone.
She grew up in American Fork, about 30 minutes away from Salt Lake City, before relocating to the Seattle area, according to her obituary.
'As you can imagine, this was absolutely devastating news and I am grief stricken,' Bobby wrote on Facebook after her death.
'Ava was an absolute delight of a human being. Everyone loved her. She had the best smile.'
Ahlander has been described as 'a beautiful soul whose kindness, warmth and adventurous spirit touched everyone around her'
The Redwest Country Music Festival was set to take place from Friday, October 10, to Sunday, October 12.
Headliners, including Post Malone, Noah Kahan, and Kacey Musgraves, were supposed to take the stage before it was cancelled on the second day.
Severe storms resulted in organizers halting the highly-anticipated event just before 5.15pm that day.
They urged festivalgoers to take their belongings and find shelter, Fox 13 previously reported.
Winds of up to 60mph were reported as Tropical Storm Priscilla, downgraded from a hurricane, battered areas of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado with heavy rain that weekend.