UPDATE: Michaela Olson, 16, Dies on Sunday Morning Run
The St. Michael-Albertville High School has been hit again after another student died Sunday on a run near Gutzwiller Park.
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ST. MICHAEL, MN -- UPDATE: (11 a.m., Monday, July 2): The local sheriff's office released the name of the 16-year-old girl who collapsed while running in Sunday morning's heat and humidity and later died at a local hospital as Michaela Marie Olson of St. Michael.
Olson was an honor roll student and was set to be a junior in the fall.
UPDATE (9:30 a.m., Monday, July 2): The Wright County Sheriff's Department reports:
"Wright County Sheriff’s [deputies] responded to a medical emergency on the bike path near Kady Avenue Northeastand 49th Street Northeast in the City of St Michael. A-16-year-old female from St. Michael was reported to have collapsed and had been found unresponsive.
"The victim was transported to New River Medical Center in Monticello by Allina Ambulance where she was pronounced dead. The St Michael Fire Department also responded to the scene.
"The name of the victim will be released later today."
The incident remains under investigation by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office and the Wright County Medical Examiner’s Office.
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First-responders, including the Wright County Sheriff's Department, St. Michael Fire Department and Allina Ambulance, were called to a tragic scene Sunday morning along County Road 119 in St. Michael.
According to witnesses who asked not to be named, a teen-aged girl collapsed and fell to the pavement while running in Sunday morning's heat and humidity. She later died at a local hospital.
Patch has corroborated the witnesses' story, and the facts are on record with agencies who arrived at the scene.
It's the third teen-aged death in less than a year for students of St. Michael-Albertville High School, who took to social media such as Twitter and Facebook to remember their classmate Sunday afternoon and evening.
The 2011-2012 junior class lost Dustin Harrington to suicide in the fall of 2011. Luke Letellier, a sophomore, died in February after a two-year battle with cancer.
The school district is also mourning the loss of a teachers, after Timothy Larson was gunned down on his father's land in October of last year.
Patch will have more on this story as it develops.
Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect Allina Ambulance as the responding EMT. St. Michael Patch regrets the earlier error.
Happy in St. Michael
10:25 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
This was so tragic, just unfathomable. It happened at 9:30 this morning. She was a beautiful light and she will always be loved and remembered. She was so kind, so sweet, so great with our children, so loving to her siblings. Please pray for her family, that they find love, peace, and happy memories in this time.
Christine Cammarn
11:25 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Our family will be praying for their tragic loss. I cant fathom what they must be going through. Our thoughts, sympathies and prayers are with all of you who knew and loved her. So sorry!
Kelly Duncan
8:56 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
There are simply no words...prayers and deepest sympathy to the family and friends.
Prebonich
11:35 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
Oh my gosh, michaela and I were great friends, she always had a smile on her face. This tragedy has struck every one that loved her as a suprise.
Please pray for God to take her hand and lead her into eternal grace.
Happy in St. Michael
2:11 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
It happened at Kady Avenue and 45th Street NE, btw. There is a memorial there if anyone wants to leave flowers, messages, and whatnot. Michaela was a beautiful person, inside and out, and I'm so thankful that so many people were touched by her in her brief life. We are blessed to have been some of them. She will always be remembered and loved.
Meghan Gutzwiller
2:34 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
This is so tragic. My deepest condolences go out to Michaela's family and friends-my heart is hurting for all who loved this girl :(
Abby nesbit
2:57 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I love you michaela, im so sorry that your dreams were never accomplished. You were one of my best friends, and you will always be in my heart. I pray for your family, I pray for you. Be free, be happy micheala :')
Rebecca Cuellar
3:28 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
This is heartwrenching. I have a sweet 16yr old daughter who often goes jogging, and is also wonderful with her siblings, like this young lady. I can only imagine what this poor family is going through. I think this article should have included what the temperature was that morning, and some safety rules for exercising in the heat. Although it did not say specifically, I'm assuming she died of heat stroke. Including some information could help prevent another such tragety.
Mike Schoemer
4:10 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
We're not assuming the heat is what caused this tragedy at this time. An autopsy will be conducted.
Robin Olson
10:06 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
We do know that it was NOT heat exhaustion, asthma, vocal cord dysfunction, or an aneurism. We are waiting for the toxicology report but were told that could take 6 to 8 weeks. We do know that she had an enlarged lymph node on the backside of her heart where no x-rays would have seen it. Nothing has been confirmed at this time. We are just waiting. Michaela's Mom.
Kelly
3:41 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
My heart breaks for this family and friends who are now with a whole in their heart. I am so sorry for the loss of such a young girl. Prayers to the family.
Kelly
3:44 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Rosemary-That is very low of you to leave such a comment! You do not know the facts and it is a tragic accident!..Wow! Can not believe a person with a heart would say such a thing as people are grieving a loss of a teenager! There is no blame to be put on anyone!
Mike Schoemer
4:10 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Her comment has been removed.
Kelly
4:38 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Thank you Mike!
Robin Olson
10:33 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Some people will always need someone to blame. It's easier to deal with such a shock, but her family knows otherwise. She was having breathing issues, but the ME has already told us that heat and dehydration played no part in this. Michaela's Mom.
PS-thanks Mike for removing Rosemary's comment.
Kim Walden
6:31 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
We here at Midwest Rubs and Sadie's Coffee would like to send our deepest sympathy to Michaela Olson's Family and Friends. We are truly saddened by her sudden death, and will miss her terribly. Again, our condolences to all that are affected by this..
dan crabtree
7:17 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Hypertophic Cardiomyopathy possibly..we just lost a thiteen year old kid playing baskeball at school as well as a eighteen year old running at school last spring..Parents get your children examined from a cardiologist not just a regular m.d..as the results of not doing this is unbearable in some cases.My condolences to this girls family..
Mike Schoemer
8:51 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Possibly Dan. We won't know for a while what exactly happened.
Robin Olson
10:20 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Thanks Dan for your condolences. Michaela's heart was normal in size. They've ruled out HC as well. When HC is the cause, the heart will be enlarged. All we can do is wait for the medical examiner's report. Thanks, Michaela's Mom
Michael Taylor
8:01 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Patch stated in an comment "We're not assuming the heat is what caused this tragedy at this time. An autopsy will be conducted." yet they then post IN the article "collapsed and fell to the pavement while running in Sunday morning's heat and humidity" According to almanac.com the maximum temperature that day was 84 degrees at the Saint Cloud Airport just north of Saint Michael. Can we not blame this on the heat just yet. Especially since it was not that hot compared to what people in the lower states experience. If it was dehydration, or she was predisposed with something that affected her. But don't blame this tragic event on the heat to catch reader's attention and to get views by claiming HEAT. Quit crying wolf when there isn't one. Sorry for the family, but its poor journalism and just typical catch phases and hot topics that you find in the media.
Anna
8:42 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
You have to remember that there is something out there called a heat index. You can't just look up the temperature- the humidity does in fact, factor in. You also don't know how long or far she had been out running. It is completely possible for her to get overheated herself, in 75 degree weather. Regardless, I think your post, as an attack; was insensitive- given the nature of the article. I believe that they were merely trying to point out that this heat wave may have been a contributing factor.
My condolences go out to the family during such a tragic and sudden loss. May your heavy hearts be uplifted by the support of your community.
Mike Schoemer
8:50 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Mr. Taylor: Thanks for your feedback. I wasn't attempting to cry wolf. Temperatures of 84 degrees and 90 percent humidity at 9:30 a.m. are rare here in MN. It's a fact that did need to be pointed out. I didn't list the EXACT temp because I didn't have the exact time of the incident upon first publishing this story. However, like a car accident on an icy evening - we have to wait for the professionals to figure out exactly what happened. Not attempting to lead anyone or play on a "hot topic" as you say. Throughout the last two days, we've taken pains to be as respectful and honest as we can in reporting this community tragedy.
On Behalf of the Elk River HOG Chapter, #2222
8:15 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Regardless of the diagnosis, my heart goes to all of her family. Prayers can bring peace as time heals. We know that she is sitting at the feet of God and will forever be another angels voice we will hear forever. God Bless the Olson's and may peace and tranquility be found. In the most simplest of terms, may you always know that you are loved and cherished in our hearts and soul forever.
Jeri Martin
9:54 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Always hard to hear when a young person passes away. Lifting up the family and friends in prayer. Godspeed, Michaela!
Prebonich
10:27 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I cried so hard, she was my first friend when I came here in first grade, I'm so sad, she was in my English class last tri and many classes before that, we always seemed to have a class together. I miss her so much!
Please pray for her soul to enter into the eternal peace of heaven and to be welcomed by the warm embrace of our Lord.
I miss you Michaela, I will pray for you everyday!
Kristin
8:18 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
According to a Fox news article, an interview w/her parents states they don't believe it is heat related, but breathing related. She had been treated for some sort of vocal chord distinction that caused breathing issues, forcing her to take time off from sports. Thinking it was now under control, she was trying to get back into shape for soccer in the fall.
Either way, it is still much too soon for any parent to ever lose a child, no matter the situation, and my heart goes out to all who knew her.
Barb
10:43 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Loosing a young life is always tragic, May Michaela's family find the strength and love they need to carry on in the days ahead. God has a plan for each of us, for some that plan is much shorter than we think is fair, but it sounds like she has left a legacy in everyone she knew. Thoughts and Prayers to her family and friends.
Soccer Mom
8:00 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I happened to be passing, on my way to a soccer tournament, during the emergency. My prayers are with her family and loved ones.