The Brief
- A 21-year-old University of South Florida student, Lauryn Akey, was killed early Sunday when the Florida Highway Patrol says a drunk driver who was traveling the wrong way on I-75, struck her vehicle.
- The driver, Dennis Lee Olson, 53, is being held without bond in Charlotte County on charges including DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
- Loved ones are honoring Akey’s memory and legacy across social media with the hashtag #lovelikelauryn.
PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Lauryn Akey’s smile radiates from every photo. The 21-year-old from Bradenton lived her life to the fullest, whether she was cheering on her University of South Florida Bulls with her mom and her best friend, spending hours fishing on the water with her boyfriend, or attending concerts to see her favorite artist, Taylor Swift.
Wrong-way DUI driver arrested in deadly crash
The backstory:
The Florida Highway Patrol said Akey’s life was cut short early Sunday morning by a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 75 in Charlotte County. She was driving home from a wedding and had texted her family just minutes before the crash to tell them she had gotten gas and loved them.
Now, Akey’s mother, Melinda Mucho, is working to focus on the joy and profound love her daughter brought to everyone who knew her.
Family remembers Akey’s kindness
What they’re saying:…