‘She’s everybody’s sunshine’: Utah CrossFit community rallies around gym owner as she fights for her life following accident

RIVERTON, Utah (ABC4) — The community is rallying around a local CrossFit Gym owner and are working to get her home after she was seriously injured while golfing in Puerto Vallarta. Kerrie Olsen is the owner of Skol CrossFit, a gym in Riverton. According to friends, she was in Puerto Vallarta with her husband, Paul, and several others, when she was involved in a golf cart accident. Olsen suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and had to undergo emergency surgery. At this time, Olsen is in an Intensive Care Unit in Mexico and is in a medically induced coma, with her family and friends working to get her home to the United States to be with her community. ABC4.com spoke with some of those community members on what Kerrie means to them and the effort to bring her home. Jamie Stagg, one of Kerrie's friends who was with her at the time of the incident, explained that the crash happened on what was previously an ordinary day. "We were, enjoying our time on the golf course with friends, celebrating each other, celebrating my birthday, and we were driving along the course and literally just came over the hill," he said. "There was a sand trap, that you can't see and next thing you know, we're in the air, nose-first into the sand trap. That's kind of where I lost memory." Jamie recalled the moments he realized that he was bleeding and that Kerrie was seriously injured. He said, "Coming to, looking over and seeing Kerrie on the grass and not moving was nerve-wracking, but myself, I was pretty in and out, bleeding pretty bad." Fortunately, they were able to use the golf cart to get help for Kerrie and the rest of their party, all of whom had been injured. However, they quickly realized it would be difficult bringing Kerrie home, due to the severity of her injuries. Reportedly, bringing Kerrie back to Utah will require a medevac flight with a full ICU team, but they are facing costs upwards of tens of thousands of dollars each day Kerrie remains at the hospital in Mexico. Annie Stagg, who was also with Kerrie at the time of the crash, says the process has been difficult and even overwhelming. "I know her kids are waiting for her. I'm thankful for the hospital that they saved her, but they don't have what they need to help her," she said. "It's been really frustrating with insurance or money, because those are things holding us back and every second counts." According to Annie, Kerrie is currently stable, but her condition could easily change. If she gets worse, they will not be able to fly her home. Her friends have created a GoFundMe* to help with the associated costs. "It's really a hopeless feeling. I would do anything to get her home and to her family and fixed up as we can," Annie continued. "Paul calls her 'her sunshine' and she is. She is everybody's sunshine. She puts good in the world every single day, like every single day." "It was a moment of enjoying life and enjoying each other to tragedy in a blink of an eye. We love Kerrie so much and she does bring sunshine into the world, and her husband Paul would do anything for her," added Jamie. "Seeing the agony that Paul has just caring for his wife...We're just hoping to get Kerrie back." He continued, "Their passion is this gym. They've poured their life into this thing. I see how much they put into their community...Kerrie is the most genuine, giving person I know. She knows everyone by name." Despite the circumstances, Kerrie's friends say they know that she will get through this, with the help of her community. "I know in my heart Kerrie is going to be fine, she's a fighter. I've never known someone who fights as much as Kerrie fights. She's going to pull through, but it's scary," Jamie concluded. Mckenzie Diaz contributed to this article.