In the novel, during the premonition, Ian doesn't die from the fall itself, but rather from succumbing to his injuries.Ian and Erin's photo with the clues to show how they die. She is technically right since she saved herself and her friends beforehand, causing Death to return to the beginning of the list and kill Ian. Wendy tells Ian to stay away from her if he wants to live.
Coincidentally, the sign that crushes him also has "McKinley" written on it, only this time, Ian is below his own name. At the aftermath of the disaster, Ian is seen complaining to Erin about his last name also being the town's name (McKinley, Pennsylvania), writing "Ian" over the school's name, which is also McKinley.Additionally, just before Ian was crushed, he looks up at the sign the same way he did when the fence posts nearly impaled him.The giant sign that crushed Ian was pointing down at him, similar to the banners from Wendy's photo and the fence posts at the store.The longer point of all these objects is pointing down, towards Ian.Ian was meant to be the fifth survivor to die, but said death was intervened. All of them are shaped as irregular pentagons, a geometrical shape with five points and sides.
Ian with Erin watching Wendy being drenched in the rain. Him and Erin also work together at the local 'Build It' store. Like his girlfriend Erin, he is shown to be very intelligent. Ian lived in McKinley, Pennsylvania, and attended the fictional McKinley High School.