Netflix’s latest true crime film examines the theories behind Mackenzie Shirilla’s case and ‘why did she do it’
Netflix’s latest true crime documentary explores several theories surrounding an extraordinary car crash case, though some questions still remain unanswered.
The shocking feature-length documentary, titled The Crash, has been streaming since this week (May 15) and is certain to keep armchair detectives thoroughly engrossed.
According to its synopsis, it examines the investigation that unfolded after a car carrying three young adults slammed into a brick building at 100 miles per hour in Strongsville, Ohio, leaving two dead and one seriously injured.
Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan both died at the scene. Dom was the boyfriend of the driver, 17 year old Mackenzie Shirilla.
While it initially appeared to be a tragic accident, detectives soon uncovered something far more sinister. Shirilla was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted of murder. Although she could spend the remainder of her life behind bars, her parents continue to maintain her innocence, reports the Mirror.
They dispute the prosecution’s claim that Mackenzie deliberately drove the car into the wall. So what drove Mackenzie Shirilla to crash the vehicle? Here’s everything you need to know, according to the new Netflix documentary.
Why did Mackenzie Shirilla crash the car?
The Netflix documentary explores a number of theories as to why the car crash occurred. This encompasses arguments and suggestions put forward by both the prosecution and the defence team representing Mackenzie throughout the trial. According to an interview given to a local news station in 2025, Shirilla’s parents Steve and Natalie claim that their daughter suffered a medical event right before the crash and did not intentionally kill her boyfriend and friend. They say they had a neurologist review evidence.
However, neither this evidence nor testimony from an expert witness suggesting a medical episode was presented as a defence during the trial. Dominic’s mother Christine revealed that her son and Shirilla had been in a relationship for four years and moved in together in 2021.
His brother alleged that the couple had ‘broken up many times’ throughout their relationship. Christine also disclosed that her son’s relationship with Shirilla had become ‘strained’ in the months leading up to the crash. There were reported incidents of ‘fighting’ and a video circulated in which Shirilla threatened to break into her boyfriend’s house.
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Prosecutors ultimately argued that she deliberately crashed the car to kill Russo and bring their troubled relationship to an end. The evening before the crash, the three attended several gatherings with friends. Data retrieved from their phone activity indicates that they began making their way home at around 5:30 a.m.
While the journey started without incident, the vehicle accelerated sharply just minutes before the crash. A forensic mechanical expert assisted with the investigation and analysed the car’s event data recorder, which is essentially the vehicle’s equivalent of a black box. The data revealed that the accelerator pedal was fully depressed with no application of the brake just seconds before the collision. This indicates that there was no attempt to lift a foot off the accelerator or apply the brakes.
The data also established that there was a sharp steering movement to the right, and the car shifted between neutral and drive in the moments preceding the crash. The reason for either of these occurrences remains unknown.
In the Netflix documentary, the lead prosecutor suggests the two victims may have been attempting to regain control of the vehicle. This has not been proven, and it could not be established whether it was the driver or a consequence of the car’s movement at speed.
Shirilla maintains she has no recollection of what occurred in the moments leading up to the crash. It was determined that she had traces of marijuana in her system, but nothing else.
The forensic expert further noted there was “no indication of any precrash mechanical or electrical failure that may have caused a loss of accelerator control, a loss of braking or a loss in the ability to steer the vehicle”.
While some questions may linger over the case, the Judge remained convinced. In her sentencing remarks, Judge Russ said: “This was not reckless driving. This was murder. The video clearly shows the purpose and intent of the defendant. She chose a course of death and destruction that day.” Shirilla received a sentence of 15 years to life for both murder charges. She is presently serving 15 years to life with the possibility of parole.
The Crash is streaming on Netflix
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