‘Please… I Just Want to Get Off This Road’ — Heartbreaking Final Moments of 21-Year-Old Lauryn Akey Before Wrong-Way Horror on I-75 Turns a Routine Drive Home Into a Devastating Crash That Leaves a Family and Community in Shock and Grief!A routine drive home turned into a devastating tragedy on Interstate 75 — 21-year-old Lauryn Akey, a University of South Florida student, was just minutes away from seeing her family when everything changed in an instant.

Lauryn Akey; Footage of the deadly crash that killed Lauryn
Lauryn Akey; Footage of moments before the crash.Credit : altogetherfuneral.com; Florida Highway Patrol

NEED TO KNOW

  • Lauryn Akey, 21, was killed in a wrong-way crash while returning home from a wedding in Florida
  • Dennis Olson, 53, allegedly had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit at the time of the crash
  • Akey’s family remembers her adventurous spirit and encourages others to “live like Lauryn” in her memory

Authorities in Florida have released video footage showing the moments leading up to a crash that killed a college student earlier this month.

Lauryn Akey, 21, was killed in the crash in on interstate in Charlotte County, Fla. around 1 a.m. on May 17, according to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE.

Dennis Olson, 53, was arrested in connection with the crash hours later, when he was discharged from the hospital where he’d been taken for his own injuries.

The investigation revealed that Olson was driving in the wrong direction on Interstate 75 when he allegedly crashed into Akey’s vehicle, causing her to be “ejected” from her car, according to the arrest report. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Officers interviewed Olson at the hospital where he was taken after the crash. He allegedly told police he had been at a “Sip & Sizzle” event that evening where he had a glass of wine, the arrest report stated. He allegedly said he did not have any recollection of the crash.

Police allege his blood alcohol content was 0.222, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08.

Akey’s family says she was returning from a wedding when she was killed, Action News 5 reported. She’d texted them she was almost home before she was killed.

In grainy black-and-white footage, which was shared with FOX 13 by the Florida Highway Patrol, Olson’s car can be seen making a U-turn on the highway shortly before the crash.

Florida drunk driver’s wrong-way crash on I-75 kills 1, injures 3

“By planning ahead, this tragedy most certainly could’ve been avoided,” an official with FHP said, according to the outlet.

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.

Dennis Lee Olson
Dennis Lee Olson.Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Following her death, Akey’s friends and family are sharing the message: “Live like Lauryn,” Action News 5 reported.

“If you have something in your soul that you feel like you need to do, do it. She did,” her mother Melinda Mucho told the outlet. “So just live like Lauryn. Love like Lauryn.”

The Swiftie senior at the University of South Florida loved spending time with her friends on the water, fishing and “chasing sunsets,” read part of her obituary.

Related Posts

‘PLEASE, STOP… YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING.’” Stacey Solomon has finally broken her silence on the growing speculation surrounding her marriage to Joe Swash — and her emotional plea has instantly reignited concern among fans. After months of rumors, tense public moments, and nonstop online chatter, Stacey directly addressed claims their relationship is struggling, insisting people are making assumptions about a life they “don’t truly see.” But despite trying to shut the gossip down, viewers quickly noticed the emotion behind her words — and many are now convinced the pressure behind the scenes may be far more intense than anyone realized. Then came one final comment that completely changed the mood… and left fans fearing there could be much more to the story than Stacey is willing to reveal right now.

Stacey Solomon has finally addressed speculation about troubles in her marriage to husband Joe Swash. The TV personality, 36, wed the former soap star, 44, in a romantic ceremony in…

“‘I KEEP WAITING TO HEAR HER WALK THROUGH THE DOOR…’” 💔 Zoe Ball has made a heartbreaking confession about daughter Nelly, 16, now living permanently with ex-husband Fatboy Slim — admitting the silence inside her home has become almost unbearable. The TV star revealed she still catches herself listening for familiar footsteps, only to remember the house she once shared with her daughter now feels painfully empty. Fans were left emotional as Zoe opened up about the difficult new chapter, with many saying her raw honesty captured the hidden heartbreak of watching a child grow up and move on. And one quiet detail Zoe shared about her evenings alone is now leaving parents everywhere fighting back tears

Zoe Ball has revealed that her daughter has moved in with her ex-husband Fatboy Slim as she confessed her house is now ‘so quiet’. The podcaster, 55, who…

“‘I’M GOING TO FIND HIM MYSELF…’” Katie Price is reportedly so desperate to track down her “missing” husband Lee Andrews that she’s now preparing to fly to Dubai herself — with fears growing she could even launch a dramatic public appeal to try to find him. But behind the panic, insiders say an even more painful possibility is haunting her: that Lee may not have vanished at all… he may have deliberately ghosted her. As confusion spirals over alleged arrests, switched-on phones, and conflicting claims about where he really is, those close to the situation say emotions are reaching breaking point — and Katie is refusing to give up. Now, with whispers of secret calls, sudden silence, and one explosive new detail emerging behind the scenes, people close to the case are beginning to fear this disappearance may be far more calculated — and far more devastating — than anyone first believed…

Katie Price is said to be desperate to get out to Dubai to help find ‘missing’ husband Lee Andrews, who was last seen on May 13. The so-called…

“‘WE WERE JUST MOMENTS AWAY… FROM A FULL-BLOWN DISASTER.’” ⚠️ Panic spread aboard an easyJet flight carrying 180 passengers after a dangerous power bank incident forced the aircraft into an emergency diversion mid-air. The terrifying scare began when crew discovered a portable charger actively powering a phone inside luggage stored in the cargo hold — a nightmare scenario aviation experts warn can trigger sudden lithium battery fires with devastating consequences. As fears of an uncontrollable blaze grew at 30,000 feet, the captain made the urgent decision to divert the plane to Rome, leaving stunned passengers realizing how close the flight may have come to catastrophe. Now, the shocking incident is reigniting serious warnings over power banks on planes — and why one small device can turn an ordinary flight into a potential tragedy within seconds

An easyJet plane carrying 180 passengers was diverted to Rome after a power bank was found in the hold. Flight EZY2618 jetted off from Hurghada, Egypt, to London Luton Airport on Tuesday,…

“ONE SONG. ONE STAGE. AND SUDDENLY EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT RILEY GREEN.” Riley Green made his long-awaited American Music Awards debut with a performance of Worst Way — and fans are already calling it one of the most memorable country moments of the night. Standing alone against a desert backdrop, dressed in his signature cowboy style, Green turned one of his most-streamed songs into a performance that had the crowd on its feet from start to finish. With millions of streams, a Best Male Country Artist nomination, and one of country music’s hottest songs, Riley didn’t just make his AMA debut… He made sure people would remember it.

Riley Green Makes His American Music Awards Peformance Debut With “Worst Way” Riley Green Performs At The AMA Awards (Photo by Rich Polk/Dick Clark Productions via Getty…

“HE WAS SINGING ABOUT HEARTBREAK… THEN THE SKY SEEMED TO BREAK WITH HIM.” One of the most talked-about moments from the AMAs came when Sombr performed Homewrecker in the middle of a pouring rainstorm on stage, turning a hit song into something that felt almost cinematic. As lightning flashed behind him and rain soaked every second of the performance, the 20-year-old singer leaned into the chaos, delivering the heartbreaking lyrics with an intensity that had viewers glued to their screens. Fans say it wasn’t just a performance anymore — it felt like watching the song come to life. And the final moments in the rain are what everyone is replaying today.

Sombr Sings Aching ‘Homewrecker’ Hit in a Rainstorm During AMAs Performance LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 25: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) sombr performs onstage during the 52nd American…