A Florida school scholar texted her household a closing message to say she cherished them and could be dwelling quickly earlier than she was killed by a drunk driver going the unsuitable approach down the freeway.
Lauryn Akey, 21, a scholar on the College of South Florida, despatched the heartbreaking final textual content after getting gasoline as she drove dwelling from a buddy’s wedding ceremony in Charlotte County, Fla., within the early hours of Could 17, in keeping with an arrest affidavit reviewed by Regulation & Crime.
Simply minutes later, Dennis Olson, 53, smashed into Akey’s Honda CR-V as he drove his F-150 truck southbound within the northbound lanes of Interstate 75, in keeping with the affidavit.
Olson later admitted to state troopers he was having a “dangerous night time.”
The drive of the crash despatched Akey flying out of her automotive and she or he later died on the scene following the collision round 1 a.m.
A witness stated Olson, of Lehigh Acres, was slurring his speech as he was helped from his truck, in keeping with the Florida Freeway Patrol.
He was discovered to be practically thrice the authorized restrict, with a BAC of 0.222, in keeping with troopers.
Olson claimed he had solely drunk a glass of wine that night time and stated he was getting back from the Sip & Sizzle restaurant in Fort Myers.
Shortly earlier than he allegedly crashed into Akey, he reportedly injured a girl and two kids from Arcadia, Fla., sideswiping their Kia Optima when he first was oncoming visitors, in keeping with his arrest affidavit.
One of many kids subsequently required surgical procedure, in keeping with the affidavit.
Akey had desires of being a nurse and was attributable to graduate from the College of South Florida subsequent yr with a level in train science, her mom, Melinda Mucho, instructed FOX13 Information.
“She would have achieved superb issues. Her life was simply on the horizon; her life was simply getting began together with her boyfriend,” Mucho stated.
“She was going to graduate subsequent yr, and I would like everybody to see her and really feel that,” the grieving mom stated, including that she had began the hashtag #lovelikelauryn on social media for her family members to recollect her by.
Akey’s boyfriend, Garrett Day, shared an emotional tribute to her on social media, together with a clip of the couple taking part in video video games, going fishing, and having fun with a street journey.
“Relaxation in paradise my love, I hope you’re holding your pink fishing pole tight catching each fish you ever needed to,” wrote Day in an Instagram reel.
“Till I get to see you once more hun,” he added, together with the hashtags #lovelikelauryn and #dontdrinkanddrive.
Olson is going through fees of vehicular murder and DUI manslaughter and is being held with out bond in Charlotte County, reported FOX13 Information.
He has a previous conviction for driving whereas impaired in Minnesota after reportedly going the unsuitable approach down a street, in keeping with the outlet.
His subsequent scheduled court docket date is June 15.
