SWFL.io - Local NewsReporter: Emily Young
•6/15/2026
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — The man accused of causing a deadly wrong-way crash in May on I-75 in Charlotte County is set to appear in court on Monday.
Dennis Olson is scheduled to be arraigned, at which point he will formally hear the charges against him and enter a plea. He's been in custody without bond since a deadly crash that killed 21-year-old Lauren Akey,
The crash happened just after 1 a.m. on May 17. Florida Highway Patrol said video shows Olson driving north on I-75 just after making an illegal U-turn through the median and driving the wrong way.
Moments later, a head-on crash killed Akey. The impact also involved another vehicle driven by Jaqueline Flores, who, along with her two sons, was seriously injured.
"I remember just seeing his headlights, but it was too little, too late," Flores said. "I somehow reacted in time and swerved to the right to avoid a complete head-on collision with us, but he still hit us."
Akey was on her way home from a wedding and had texted her parents she was almost home just minutes before the crash. Her family says she was just starting her life.
"She would've done amazing things," a family member said. "Her life was just getting started with her boyfriend. She was going to graduate next year. I just want everyone to see her and feel that."
Troopers said Olson's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit after the crash. Olson is charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide.
The arraignment is set for 9:30 a.m. at the Charlotte County Courthouse.