Netflix's The Crash is bizarre true story about teen given life for murderous 100mph smash into wall
Netflix’s next hit true crime documentary focuses on a 17-year-old girl who was jailed after driving her car at 100 miles per hour into a brick wall.
The Netflix true crime doc, called The Crash, tells the story of American teenager Mackenzie Shirilla.
When the incident first occurred in Ohio it seemed like a tragic story where Shirilla had survived a car crash that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo, and Dominic’s friend, Davion Flanagan.
Russo, who was 20, and Flanagan, who was 19, were killed instantly, whilst Shirilla was seriously hurt and rushed to hospital.
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The crash took place in July of 2022, with Shirilla going viral in hospital on TikTok after the incident. The public perception of the case changed completely however when she was arrested and charged with 17 crimes, including two counts of aggravated murder.
Why did Shirilla drive into the brick wall at 100 miles per hour?
It was discovered during the police investigation that the 17-year-old had purposely driven the car into the wall in a successful attempt to kill her boyfriend and get out of her ‘toxic’ relationship with him.
Investigators speaking in Netflix’s The Crash reveal that, despite hitting 100 miles per hour and careening off a road, she made no attempt to stop before crashing into the wall.
During the trial prosecutors slammed Shirilla for her lack of remorse over the killings, with the judge calling her ‘hell on wheels’ during sentencing.
She was sentenced to between 15 years and a life sentence on August 23, 2023, and will not be available for parole until she has served the minimum 15 years.
Christine Russo, Dominic’s mother, said in court: "Dom and Davion were robbed of their futures, their hopes and their dreams. Mackenzie showed no mercy on Dominic, nor did she on Davion."
She went on to tell the teenager who killed her son that she should ‘be thankful you're still alive and have a future, whatever that may be’.
Shirilla said she was 'deeply sorry', but has since had an attempted appeal denied
Though Shirilla did not give evidence in court, she did read out a statement aimed at the ‘families of Dominic and Davion’ saying she was ‘deeply sorry’.
She added: “I hope one day you can see I would never let this happen or do it on purpose. I wish I could remember what happened."
Just over a year later she faced another blow when her attempt to appeal was denied over a minor technicality.
In Ohio, where she was sentenced, defendants have 365 days to file an appeal against the verdict.
Shirilla’s lawyer reportedly made the application one day after the 365-day deadline, on the one-year anniversary, and it was denied by the court.
The now 22-year-old argued that, because 2024 was a leap year, she should be given a one-day extension, but this was denied.
Now, Netflix’s documentary promises to answer a key question: “Why did they crash?”
The Crash releases on Netflix May 15.
Topics: Netflix, True Crime, Crime, TV and Film, Documentaries
Michael Slavin