Family sues Amazon, others over crash that left NW Indiana teen with catastrophic brain injury

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) -- A family is suing Amazon over a crash in LaPorte County, Indiana, that left a teenage baseball player with a catastrophic brain injury, alleging the company failed to properly vet the truck driver involved in the collision.

More than a year after the crash, 17-year-old Lucas Bradshaw continues to undergo rehabilitation several days a week as he works to regain his mobility, vision and cognitive abilities. Bradshaw was ejected from a school minibus carrying junior varsity baseball teammates and coaches during the crash.

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"He would like to play baseball again," said his mother, Kelley Bradshaw. "I don't forsee that happening as a parent. But he has a goal and if we can help him with it we're going to."

According to investigators, truck driver Shawn Akison tested positive for fentanyl after the crash. Akison, who collided with the minibus, is serving an eight-year prison sentence in Indiana.

The Bradshaw family's attorneys contend the crash could have been prevented if Amazon had properly screened Akison, who was hauling a load for the company that day.

"Mr. Akison had accumulated almost two decades of serious driving violations prior to being authorized to haul for Amazon, including things like hit and run and leaving the scene of an accident," said Nick Kamenjarin, a partner at Lane Brown LLC.

The attorneys also said Akison had most recently been arrested for heroin possession while driving for Amazon.

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Facing more than $1 million in medical bills, the Bradshaw family has filed a lawsuit against Amazon. The suit also names a third-party company based in Naperville that officially employed Akison.

According to the family's attorneys, Akison, while not formally employed by Amazon, worked as an Amazon Relay driver; hauling freight between Amazon hubs and accepting jobs through the Relay app.

"Amazon demanded and exercised complete control over these drivers from beginning to end," said Scott Lane, a partner at Lane Brown LLC.

The crash has had a lasting impact on the entire family. Lucas' father, Bradley Bradshaw, was driving the school minibus when it was struck from behind.

"Everytime I look in the rearview mirror if I'm driving anything I see the truck," Bradley Bradshaw said. "It's the one thing I'm never going to get out of my mind."

Amazon declined to comment on the lawsuit. In a statement regarding the crash, the company said: "This was a tragedy, and our hearts are with the families affected as they recover."

Lucas recently completed his junior year of high school at home while continuing rehabilitation. His goal is to return to school in person for his senior year next month.