Lawsuit Claims Elk Grove City Employee Caused Rear-End Collision From Distracted Driving
The lawsuit alleges the city is liable for the actions of its employee and was negligent in hiring, training, supervising, and retaining him
ELK GROVE, Calif. — A Sacramento County family has filed a lawsuit against the City of Elk Grove and one of its employees, alleging negligence in a 2025 traffic collision that injured a mother and her two children.
The complaint, filed yesterday in Sacramento County Superior Court, names city employee Zachary Nathaniel Upshaw and the City of Elk Grove as defendants. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for injuries and losses allegedly sustained by Lacy Ann Bradley and her two minor children.
According to the complaint, Bradley was driving eastbound on Calvine Road near Vintage Park Drive on July 10, 2025, when traffic ahead slowed or stopped. The lawsuit alleges that Upshaw, who was driving a city-owned Ford Explorer while acting within the scope of his employment, failed to stop and rear-ended Bradley's vehicle.
The complaint alleges Upshaw told law enforcement he was looking down at a computer immediately before the crash and was unable to stop in time. It further states that an Elk Grove Police Department investigation determined Upshaw violated California's basic speed law and was the primary cause of the collision.
In addition to negligence claims against Upshaw, the lawsuit alleges the city is liable for the actions of its employee and was negligent in hiring, training, supervising and retaining him. The complaint also includes a claim of negligent entrustment, alleging city officials knew or should have known Upshaw was unfit to operate the vehicle involved in the crash.
The plaintiffs claim they suffered bodily injuries, property damage, medical expenses, emotional distress, and other economic and non-economic losses. The lawsuit seeks general and special damages, medical expenses, lost earnings, property damage, costs of suit, and other relief to be determined at trial, and a jury trial has been requested.
Court records show the family filed a government claim with the city in December 2025. The complaint states the City of Elk Grove rejected the claim on Feb. 12, 2026, clearing the way for the lawsuit.
The city has not yet filed a response.
