Student sent heartbreaking final text minutes before being ‘killed by drunk driver’

A 21-year-old university student on the cusp of starting her dream life after graduation has died after sending her loved ones a text message promising to be home soon. Lauryn Akey sent the heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home through the night, moments before she was hit by an alleged drunk driver careering down the wrong side of the highway. Minutes after her last-ever text message, she was struck by an alleged drunk driver, Dennis Olson, 53, as he careered the wrong way down the highway.

She was driving home from a friend’s wedding in Charlotte County, Florida, in the early hours of May 17, as per legal documents obtained by Law & Crime. The University of South Florida student told her family that she loved them and would be home soon, foreshadowing a fate that would never come.

As per affidavits obtained by Law & Crime, Olson drove his F-150 truck into Akey’s Honda CR-V while driving south on the northbound lanes of Interstate 75. The force of the crash sent Akey flying out of her car, and she died at the scene at around 1am on May 17.

Olson has been charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Olson later admitted to Florida state troopers he was having a “bad night”.

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 had a blood alcohol limit of 0.222, according to state troopers, which is nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.

Olson claimed he had only drunk a glass of wine that night and said he was returning from the Sip & Sizzle restaurant in nearby Fort Myers.

Shortly before he allegedly crashed into Akey, he reportedly injured a woman and two children from Arcadia, Florida, sideswiping their Kia Optima when he turned into oncoming traffic, as per arrest documents. One of the children in that collision subsequently required surgery.

Grainy black-and-white footage obtained by FOX 13 from the Florida Highway Patrol shows Olson’s car making a U-turn on the highway to drive in the wrong direction shortly before the crash.

Olson has been charged with one count each of negligent manslaughter in DUI causing death and vehicular homicide, online court records show. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The 53-year-old has a prior conviction for driving while impaired in Minnesota after reportedly driving the wrong way down another road, as per the outlet.

He claims to have no recollection of the crash.

Akey’s mother, Melinda Muchotold, FOX13 News of her daughter’s dreams of becoming a nurse, with the 21-year-old set to graduate from the University of South Florida next year with a degree in exercise science.

“She would have done amazing things. Her life was just on the horizon; her life was just getting started with her boyfriend,” Ms Mucho said.

“She was going to graduate next year, and I want everyone to see her and feel that,” the grieving mother said.

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,” Day said in a caption below a social media tribute.

“Until I get to see you again hun,” he added.

Olson has been held without bail in Florida’s Charlotte County, where his next scheduled court date is June 15.