SPANISH FORT, Alabama — The mother of one of three teens killed in car crash near the Crossroads community in 2020 has filed a lawsuit claiming negligence by the parents of the driver and a fraternity at the University of Alabama.
According to a release by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, three juveniles were killed when a 2014 Infinity Q50 they were in left the roadway and hit a tree on County Road 39 near the Crossroads community southwest of Bay Minette on the night of June 21.
The teens were later identified as 17-year-old Matthew “Blayne” Shackelford of Bay Minette; 17-year-old John Avery Blackmon of Spanish Fort; and 15-year-old James Tyler “Ty” Drinkard of Perdido.
The lawsuit, filed recently by Blackmon’s mother Cheyanne Strickland, claims that shortly before the three teens’ deaths, Blackmon purchased alcohol at a store in Stockton using a fake ID, which the lawsuit alleges was provided for Blackmon by the Sigma Nu fraternity at the University of Alabama as an “incentive for pledging the university.”
The lawsuit names the national Sigma Nu fraternity, along with the University of Alabama’s Theta Chapter, and Trent Linam, a member of Sigma Nu whom the lawsuit claims sent Blackmon information on how to take the photograph for the fake ID. The lawsuit also names Old Iron Sides Fakes, who reportedly made the fake ID, as a defendant.
“This is just a horrifying tragedy that no one should have to endure,” said Daphne attorney Andy Citrin, whose firm represents Stricklin. “The actions of these defendants are just simply inexcusable. This is about holding those accountable who enabled this to happen while serving as to discourage anyone who might enable this type of thing happening in the future.”
The lawsuit also names Blayne Shackelford’s father and stepmother, Matthew and Alexandria Shackelford, as defendants, claiming they allowed the teens to operate a boat while drinking and supplied them with alcohol.
The lawsuit also alleges that the Matthew and Alexandria Shackelford, through their Auto Plex dealership, also named as a defendant, supplied Blayne Shackelford with the vehicle and that when Blayne Shackelford turned onto County Road 39 he “was driving while heavily intoxicated at 128 miles per hour” when he went off the roadway and struck a tree.
According to reports, Citrin said there is an ongoing investigation and that he hopes to have the civil case heard by a jury within the next year and a half.
