Netflix's latest true crime documentary, The Crash, streaming from May 15, examines the case of Mackenzie Shirilla, a 17-year-old convicted of murder after a car crash that killed her boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan. The vehicle struck a brick building at 100 mph in Strongsville, Ohio, initially thought to be an accident.
Prosecutors argued Shirilla deliberately drove into the wall to end her troubled relationship with Russo. Data from the car's event data recorder showed the accelerator fully depressed, no brake application, and a sharp right turn seconds before impact. The gearshift also moved between neutral and drive, though the reason remains unknown.
Shirilla's parents, Steve and Natalie, maintain her innocence, claiming a medical event caused the crash. They say a neurologist reviewed evidence, but this was not presented at trial. Shirilla herself says she has no memory of the moments before the crash.
The documentary explores both prosecution and defence theories, including the couple's strained relationship. Russo's mother noted they had been together four years and moved in together in 2021, but the relationship became 'strained' with reported fighting. A video showed Shirilla threatening to break into Russo's house.
Forensic experts found no mechanical or electrical failure. Shirilla had traces of marijuana in her system but no other substances. The lead prosecutor suggested the victims may have tried to regain control, but this remains unproven.
