Florida College Student Killed in Wrong-Way I-75 Crash; DUI Allegations Spark Renewed Calls for Road Safety

A deadly crash on Interstate 75 in Florida has left a family grieving after 21-year-old University of South Florida student Lauryn Akey was killed in a wrong-way collision that investigators say involved an allegedly intoxicated driver.

According to reports, Lauryn was heading home from a friend’s wedding in Charlotte County on May 17 when her trip ended in tragedy. Just minutes before the impact, she reportedly stopped for gas and sent a short, loving message to her family—telling them she loved them and would be home soon. For her loved ones, that text has become a heartbreaking final goodbye.

What investigators say happened on I-75

Authorities allege that 53-year-old Dennis Olson was driving a Ford F-150 southbound in the northbound lanes of I-75 when the truck collided head-on with Lauryn’s Honda CR-V. Investigators say Lauryn was ejected during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials also stated that Olson’s blood alcohol level was reported as 0.222—nearly three times the legal limit. Witnesses at the scene reportedly described signs of impairment, including confusion and slurred speech, as people assisted him after the collision. Despite that, Olson allegedly told investigators he had only consumed one glass of wine and said he’d been having a “bad night.”