06/12/2026
Three weeks after a fatal wrong-way crash on Interstate 75 in Charlotte County, survivor Jacqueline Flores is speaking publicly about the tragedy for the first time.
Jacqueline Flores was driving home with her 15-year-old son, Aleksander, and his 12-year-old brother after spending an evening at Dave & Buster’s in Fort Myers when a wrong-way driver slammed into their vehicle during the early morning hours of May 17th, 2026.
“I suddenly saw headlights coming toward us and instinctively swerved to the right,” Flores recalled. “Everything happened in an instant.”
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 53-year-old Dennis Lee Olson of Sarasota allegedly made a U-turn on I-75 near mile marker 150 and drove south in the northbound lanes.
Investigators say Olson’s Ford F-150 first struck Flores’ Kia Optima.
“He hit the driver’s side head-on and tore through the entire side of my car, ripping off the doors,” Jacqueline Flores said.
The crash left Jacqueline Flores, her son, and the 12-year-old passenger seriously injured.
After colliding with Flores’ vehicle, troopers say Dennis Olson’s truck continued on and crashed head-on into a second vehicle driven by 21-year-old Lauryn Akey of Bradenton. Lauryn Akey died as a result of the collision.
“I don’t understand why I survived and the person behind me didn’t,” Flores said.
Now, three weeks later, Flores is still recovering from her physical injuries while struggling with the emotional impact of surviving a crash that claimed another person’s life.
“I wish I could trade places with Lauryn because she had so much more life ahead of her,” she said.
As a single mother and sole provider for her family, Jacqueline Flores says the accident has also created overwhelming financial challenges.
“This has completely changed my life because I’m having to start over,” she said. “I had just bought that car in February, and I lost my dream job with a solar company that was supposed to transform our future.”
Court records show Dennis Lee Olson has been charged with DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide. He was arrested after receiving treatment for injuries at a local hospital.
“His blood alcohol content was .222,” Rosenberg said. “For perspective, depending on a person’s size and other factors, that could be equivalent to roughly seven to 11 alcoholic drinks.”
Records also indicate Dennis Olson was previously convicted of DUI in Minnesota in 2019.
As she continues her recovery, Jacqueline Flores hopes her experience serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of impaired driving and the lives it can change forever.
Dennis Olson is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on June 15 and remains in custody at the Charlotte County Jail without bond.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to assist Jacqueline Flores and her son with medical expenses and help them rebuild their lives following the crash. If you are able to donate or share please feel free to do so it is truly appreciated.
Here is the GoFundMe link:
https://gofund.me/db71c5398
or if you prefer CashApp
CashApp: $itsjustjakki
