Friends, family plant tree at USF honoring nursing student killed by wrong-way driver
Memorial for USF student killed in wrong-way crash
The family of a USF student hit and killed by a drunk driver is keeping her spirit alive Monday with a special memorial. FOX 13's Heather Healy reports.
TAMPA, Fla. - USF students, family and friends gathered on campus Monday to plant an evergreen oak tree honoring Lauryn Akey, a nursing student killed by a wrong-way drunk driver in May.
USF memorial tree for wrong-way crash victim
The backstory:
Akey was driving home from a wedding when a wrong-way driver slammed into her car on Interstate 75 in Charlotte County. The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver, Dennis Olson, was drunk when he hit her vehicle just minutes after she texted her family to say she loved them.
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On Monday morning at 8 a.m., classmates, friends and family gathered outside the Physical Education building on the USF campus to plant an evergreen oak tree in her honor. The living tribute by the Exercise Science Department symbolizes a life dedicated to helping others.
Love Like Lauryn Foundation
Why you should care:
Akey’s mother, Melinda Mucho, turned her grief into a community movement by continuing the viral hashtag #LoveLikeLauryn, and starting the Love Like Lauryn Foundation.
"You can look her up and see how loved she is. I just want everyone to feel that," Mucho said. "You can feel it by looking at her smile. I want everyone to see her and be like her. She was never mean to anybody. She brought people together, so many people together. Loved hard, loved so hard."
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Florida Highway Patrol reports and statements provided by Lauryn Akey's family to FOX 13 News, as well as previous FOX 13 News reporting.