- Kerrie Olsen from Riverton is critically injured after a freak accident in Mexico.
- Friends, family and members of her CrossFit gym are now working urgently to bring her home.
- At SKOL CrossFit in Riverton, where Olsen is the owner, her absence is deeply felt.
RIVERTON — A vacation in paradise turned tragic for a Riverton woman after a freak golf cart accident in Mexico left her fighting for her life.
The Riverton community is now coming together to support 39-year-old Kerrie Olsen, who remains in critical condition at a hospital near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Friends, family and members of her CrossFit gym are working urgently to bring her home, a process that is both complicated and costly.
Because of the severity of her injuries, she requires an air ambulance staffed with a medical team.
At SKOL CrossFit in Riverton, where Olsen is the owner, her absence is deeply felt. Known as the heart and soul of the gym, friends describe her as someone who brings positivity and light to everyone around her.
"She's everybody's sunshine. She puts good in the world every single day," said Annie Stagg, Olsen's best friend.
Stagg was with Olsen in the six-seater golf cart at the time of the accident, along with her husband, Jamie Stagg. The group had been enjoying their vacation with other friends when everything suddenly changed.
"We were just taking in the beauty, and then, bam, next thing you know, we're in the air," Annie Stagg said. "It was such polarizing emotions of pure joy and then pure terror."
Jamie Stagg recalled the terrifying moment as well.
"Before you know it, we're in the air," he said. "Looking over and seeing Kerrie laying on the grass and not moving, it was nerve-wracking."
All three suffered injuries. Annie Stagg fractured four ribs, punctured a lung and injured her ankle. Jamie Stagg suffered a severe cut to his head and was bleeding profusely. However, Kerrie Olsen was hurt the most, sustaining a traumatic brain injury.
She has since undergone emergency brain surgery and remains in intensive care in a medically induced coma.
Despite their own injuries, the Staggs are focused on helping their friend.
"I want her home with her family, and I'll do anything," Annie Stagg said. "I promised her I'd do anything to get her home again."
Jamie Stagg remains hopeful.
"I know in my mind Kerrie is going to be fine," he said. "She's a fighter. I've never known somebody to fight as much as Kerrie fights. She owns a CrossFit gym."
The community has organized a *GoFundMe to help cover the cost of medical transport and ongoing care.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
