Shawn Akison sentenced to 12 years for 2025 multi-vehicle crash with New Prairie baseball team

ABC57's Annie Kate was in La Porte Circuit Court Wednesday where Shawn Akison was sentenced to 8 years for Causing Catastrophic Injury When Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated, a Level 4 Felony, and 4 years for Causing Serious Bodily Injury when Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Level 5 Felony.

On March 13 this year, Akison pled guilty to those two most severe charges, pursuant to a plea agreement, which the judge accepted. The sentences are to be served consecutively. The final three years are suspended for probation. 

The courtroom was full of New Prairie baseball players and coaches Wednesday for the sentencing hearing. Among them was Lucas Bradshaw, who nearly didn't survive the crash and spent 54 days in a coma.

After the judge handed down Shawn Akison's 12-year sentence, ABC57 caught up with Rich Shail, formerly referred to as "Coach Shail" by New Prairie baseball players. He was also injured in the May 8 crash.

"Recovery's been okay. Will I ever be back to where I was before the accident? I don't think so," he said.

He said the students involved in the crash are largely doing okay. "The tragedy of the accident has affected them and will affect them for the rest of their lives," he said. "They'll never get over it. I'll never get over it."

"There's never enough time given to a person that does this kind of destruction to as many people that he did. So no, I'm not in total agreement with it, but I think it is fair," Shail said.

Akison apologized for his actions in court before learning his fate. 

"Do I hate him? No. But I do hate what he did to us," Shail said. "He asked for forgiveness. Can I give him forgiveness? I can, I'm that kind of a person. I forgive him for what he did, I just hope that in the end, he can be rehabilitated."