{"id":3455,"date":"2026-05-26T02:06:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T02:06:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/student-sent-heartbreaking-text-message-moments-before-she-was-killed-by-drunk-driver\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T02:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T02:06:30","slug":"student-sent-heartbreaking-text-message-moments-before-she-was-killed-by-drunk-driver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/student-sent-heartbreaking-text-message-moments-before-she-was-killed-by-drunk-driver\/","title":{"rendered":"Student sent heartbreaking text message moments before she was &#8216;killed by drunk driver&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1c1e1b\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home through the night, moments before she was hit by a drunk driver careering down the wrong side of the highway<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<p><span><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_1c1e1b\">Rachel Vickers-Price<\/strong> UK and World News Reporter<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204338\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lauren Akey, 21, was killed by alleged drunk driver Dennis Olson, 53, who was nearly three times above the legal limit\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204338.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Untitled-design-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204338.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Untitled-design-1.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204338.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Untitled-design-1.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204338.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Untitled-design-1.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Lauren Akey, 21, was killed by alleged drunk driver Dennis Olson, 53, who was nearly three times above the legal limit\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Lauren Akey, 21, was killed by alleged drunk driver Dennis Olson, 53, who was nearly three times above the legal limit<cite aria-label=\"Image: Supplied\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Supplied)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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. Minutes after her last-ever text message, <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/accidents\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">she was struck<\/a> by an alleged drunk driver as he careered the wrong way down the highway.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home from a friend\u2019s wedding in Charlotte County, <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/us-news\/?service=responsive\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Florida<\/a>, in the early hours of May 17, as per legal documents obtained by <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/lawandcrime.com\/crime\/man-having-bad-night-drives-wrong-way-down-highway-kills-college-student-headed-home-from-wedding-moments-after-she-texted-family-she-loved-them-cops-say\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Law &amp; Crime.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">University of South Florida<\/a> student told her family that she loved them and would be home soon, foreshadowing a fate that would never come thanks to drunk driver Dennis Olson, 53.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204336\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204336\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.33\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Authorities in Florida have released video footage showing the moments leading up to a crash\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204336.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Untitled-design.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204336.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Untitled-design.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204336.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Untitled-design.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204336.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Untitled-design.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Authorities in Florida have released video footage showing the moments leading up to a crash\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Authorities in Florida have released video footage showing the moments leading up to a crash<cite aria-label=\"Image: FOX 13\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: FOX 13)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">As per affidavits obtained by Law &amp; Crime, Olson drove his F-150 truck into Akey\u2019s Honda CR-V as he drove his 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Olson has been charged with of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide, as per a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law &amp; Crime. Olson later admitted to Florida state troopers he was having a \u201cbad night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A witness said Olson, of Lehigh Acres, was slurring his speech as he was helped from his truck, as per to the Florida Highway Patrol. He had a blood alcohol limit of 0.222, according to state troopers, which nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Olson claimed he had only drunk a glass of wine that night and said he was returning from the Sip &amp; Sizzle restaurant in the nearby Fort Myers.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204335\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204335\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mugshot of Dennis Lee Olson\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204335.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dennis-Lee-Olson-051926-7449f30e54784e14a7b9971939b7f2a3.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204335.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Dennis-Lee-Olson-051926-7449f30e54784e14a7b9971939b7f2a3.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204335.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Dennis-Lee-Olson-051926-7449f30e54784e14a7b9971939b7f2a3.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204335.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Dennis-Lee-Olson-051926-7449f30e54784e14a7b9971939b7f2a3.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mugshot of Dennis Lee Olson\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mugshot of Dennis Lee Olson<cite aria-label=\"Image: Charlotte County Sheriff's Office\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Charlotte County Sheriff&#8217;s Office)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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, <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/lawandcrime.com\/crime\/man-having-bad-night-drives-wrong-way-down-highway-kills-college-student-headed-home-from-wedding-moments-after-she-texted-family-she-loved-them-cops-say\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">as per arrest documents.<\/a> One of the children in that collision subsequently required surgery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Grainy black-and-white footage obtained by FOX 13 from the Florida Highway Patrol, Olson&#8217;s car can be seen making a U-turn on the highway to drive in the wrong direction shortly before the crash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He claims to have no recollection of the crash.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37204337\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37204337\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home on May 17\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204337.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_lauryn-akey-seen-undated-photo-128712596.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204337.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_lauryn-akey-seen-undated-photo-128712596.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204337.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_lauryn-akey-seen-undated-photo-128712596.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37204337.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_lauryn-akey-seen-undated-photo-128712596.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home on May 17\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as she drove home on May 17<cite aria-label=\"Image: Supplied\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Supplied)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Akey&#8217;s mother Melinda Muchotold FOX13 News of her daughter&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cShe would have done amazing things. Her life was just on the horizon; her life was just getting started with her boyfriend,\u201d Ms Mucho said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cShe was going to graduate next year, and I want everyone to see her and feel that,\u201d the grieving mother said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Akey\u2019s 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.\u201cRest in paradise my love, I hope you\u2019re holding your pink fishing pole tight catching every fish you ever wanted to,\u201d Day said in a caption below a social media tribute.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cUntil I get to see you again hun,\u201d he added,<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Olson has been held without bail in Florida&#8217;s Charlotte County, where his next scheduled court date is June 15.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/us-news\/student-killed-last-text-drunk-37204332\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lauryn Akey, 21, sent her heartbreaking final text message after fuelling up her car as<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Untitled-design-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}