LA PORTE COUNTY – The La Porte County Sheriff’s Office has released more information and made an arrest related to a vehicle crash that occurred at US Highway 20 and Fail Road on Thursday May 8th.
Thursday afternoon there was a collision involving a total of 4 vehicles; a commercial motor vehicle, two mini-buses from New Prairie United School Corporation or NPUSC, and a single axle box truck.
According to an update from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office; on the day of the accident the St. Joseph County Police Department received a report of a box truck traveling westbound on State Road 2 in a reckless manner. A traffic stop was attempted by a St. Joseph County Deputy; however the box truck failed to yield and continued traveling west, and the deputy terminated the pursuit of the truck.
At 3:13PM, Deputy Jeff Armstrong was dispatched to the area of State Road 2 and US 20 regarding the reckless driving box truck. At 3:16PM, deputies responded to the multi-vehicle crash at 20 and Fail Road.
The box truck, being operated by Shawn Wesly Russell Akison of Romeoville, Illinois, collided with the commercial vehicle and two NPUSC mini-buses that were transporting members of the baseball team to a game. Two coaches and seven students were injured in the accident, with one student-athlete being airlifted from the scene and transported to a regional hospital for treatment.
Akison was taken into custody at the scene and after being medically cleared at an area hospital, Akison was transported to the La Porte County Jail. He was arrested for Criminal Recklessness, which is a Level 5 Felony. He is being held on a $15,005 cash-only bond. Toxicology test results are pending, and the crash investigation is ongoing. Every person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with dash camera footage, or if you witnessed the box truck being operated on State Road 2 or US 20 on May 8th, you are encouraged to e-mail Chief of Detectives Captain Andy Hynek at ahynek@lcso.in.gov.
