Friends and family of University of South Florida student Lauryn Akey gathered on campus on Monday to plant an evergreen oak in memory of the 21-year-old, who was killed by an alleged wrong-way drink-driver in May.
The tree was planted outside the Physical Education building at 8am, in a ceremony organised by USF’s Exercise Science Department. It is intended as a lasting tribute to Akey, who had planned to pursue a career in nursing after graduating.
Akey, from Bradenton, was driving home from a wedding when her Honda CR-V was struck on Interstate 75 in Charlotte County in the early hours of 17 May. Florida Highway Patrol investigators said a Ford F-150 had been travelling south in the northbound lanes after making an improper U-turn.
Troopers said the truck first struck another vehicle before colliding head-on with Akey’s car near mile marker 149. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while three people in the other vehicle suffered serious injuries. A fourth vehicle later hit debris but its driver was not hurt. ([mysuncoast.com](https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/05/22/celebration-life-scheduled-bradenton-woman-killed-i-75-wrong-way-crash/?utm_source=openai))
Dennis Lee Olson, 53, of Lehigh Acres, was arrested after being treated in hospital. Investigators said a blood-alcohol test recorded a reading of 0.222, almost three times Florida’s legal limit. He has been charged in connection with Akey’s death and the serious injuries caused in the crash. ([fox13news.com](https://www.fox13news.com/news/family-community-lovelikelauryn-usf-student-killed-wrong-way-dui-crash?utm_source=openai))
Olson pleaded not guilty at a Charlotte County hearing in June and remains in custody, according to local court reporting. ([mysuncoast.com](https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/06/15/sarasota-man-pleads-not-guilty-fatal-wrong-way-i-75-dui-crash/?utm_source=openai))
Akey had been preparing to begin her senior year at USF and was studying exercise science. Her obituary said she had maintained a 4.0 GPA and intended to become a nurse. ([mysuncoast.com](https://www.mysuncoast.com/2026/05/22/celebration-life-scheduled-bradenton-woman-killed-i-75-wrong-way-crash/?utm_source=openai))
USF memorial tree honours Lauryn Akey
Her mother, Melinda Mucho, has sought to keep her daughter’s memory alive through the Love Like Lauryn Foundation and the hashtag #LoveLikeLauryn, which has been shared by friends, relatives and members of the wider community.
Mucho said the campaign reflected Akey’s kindness and her ability to bring people together.
“You can look her up and see how loved she is. I just want everyone to feel that,” she said. “She was never mean to anybody. She brought people together, so many people together. Loved hard, loved so hard.”
Family members said Akey had texted them to say she loved them just minutes before the crash. Her relatives have urged people to remember not only how she died, but also the compassion and warmth she showed during her life.
