A Florida college student texted her family a final message to say she loved them and would be home soon before she was killed by a drunk driver going the wrong way down the highway.
Lauryn Akey, 21, a student at the University of South Florida, sent the heartbreaking last text after getting gas as she drove home from a friend’s wedding in Charlotte County, Fla., in the early hours of May 17, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime.
Just minutes later, Dennis Olson, 53, smashed into Akey’s Honda CR-V as he drove his F-150 truck southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 75, according to the affidavit.
Olson later admitted to state troopers he was having a “bad night.”
The force of the crash sent Akey flying out of her car and she later died at the scene following the collision around 1 a.m.
A witness said Olson, of Lehigh Acres, was slurring his speech as he was helped from his truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
He was found to be nearly three times the legal limit, with a BAC of 0.222, according to troopers.
Olson claimed he had only drunk a glass of wine that night and said he was returning from the Sip & Sizzle restaurant in Fort Myers.
Shortly before he allegedly crashed into Akey, he reportedly injured a woman and two children from Arcadia, Fla., sideswiping their Kia Optima when he first turned into oncoming traffic, according to his arrest affidavit.
One of the children subsequently required surgery, according to the affidavit.
Akey had dreams of being a nurse and was due to graduate from the University of South Florida next year with a degree in exercise science, her mother, Melinda Mucho, told FOX13 News.
“She would have done amazing things. Her life was just on the horizon; her life was just getting started with her boyfriend,” Mucho said.
“She was going to graduate next year, and I want everyone to see her and feel that,” the grieving mother said, adding that she had started the hashtag #lovelikelauryn on social media for her loved ones to remember her by.
Akey’s boyfriend, Garrett Day, shared an emotional tribute to her on social media, including a clip of the couple playing video games, going fishing, and enjoying a road trip.
“Rest in paradise my love, I hope you’re holding your pink fishing pole tight catching every fish you ever wanted to,” wrote Day in an Instagram reel.
“Until I get to see you again hun,” he added, along with the hashtags #lovelikelauryn and #dontdrinkanddrive.
Olson is facing charges of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter and is being held without bond in Charlotte County, reported FOX13 News.
He has a prior conviction for driving while impaired in Minnesota after reportedly going the wrong way down a road, according to the outlet.
His next scheduled court date is June 15.
