Two Granite Benches Given to Akranes in Memory of Lovísa Hrund

“With this gift, we want to create a beautiful and lasting way to honour her memory, while also continuing to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence,” says Hrönn Ásgeirsdóttir, mother of Lovísa Hrund Svavarsdóttir. Lovísa’s family presented Akraneskaupstaður with two beautiful granite benches but Lovísa would have turned 30 years old in October 2025. One bench will be placed at Akratorg town square and the other by Guðlaug. “Our hope is that the benches will become places for happy moments, conversations, quiet reflection and togetherness.”

Lovísa Hrund died in a serious collision on Akrafjallsvegur road on 6 April 2013, at just 17 years of age. Her death drew considerable attention to the dangers of drink-driving, and the Lovísa Hrund Memorial Fund was subsequently established. The fund’s aim is to promote education and prevention efforts against driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.

In recent years, the fund has supported a range of educational and prevention initiatives, as well as presenting annual encouragement awards at graduation ceremonies at Grundaskóli, Brekkubæjarskóli and Fjölbrautaskóli Vesturlands in Akranes, all three of which Lovísa Hrund attended. School administrators select the recipients, with the aim of recognising students who treat others with kindness and respect, are helpful and have good interpersonal skills.

Hrönn says the locations chosen for the benches are no coincidence.
“Akratorg was chosen because she always had such a great admiration for seafarers and felt that they played an important role,” says Hrönn, adding that Lovísa’s father, Svavar Skarphéðinn Guðmundsson, was a seaman. “She also loved ice cream, so we thought it would be a lovely idea for people to sit on the bench in the square, look out at the statue of the Seaman and enjoy an ice cream.”

Akratorg also featured in a dream Hrönn had some time before Lovísa’s death. “I have always had very vivid, prophetic dreams. I dreamt that I was standing in the square, looking at a glass vase filled with white lilies that reached all the way to the sky. When Lovísa died, the first bouquet of flowers I received was white lilies in a large glass vase.”

As for the location by Guðlaug, Hrönn says it offers another opportunity to sit by the sea, surrounded by the wonderful natural beauty found in Akranes.

The two granite benches feature, among other things, the memorial fund’s logo, which includes Lovísa’s name written in her own handwriting. Both the heart and the hand depicted in the logo were also drawn by Lovísa herself.

Hrönn says that working to prevent driving under the influence is a major undertaking. “But if we can prevent even one person from getting behind the wheel while drunk or under the influence of drugs, that is enough for me.”

Those who wish to support the fund can make a contribution to account number 0552-14-408000, ID no. 490813-0200. 

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