Inside Mackenzie Shirilla’s ‘Intentional’ Car Crash That Killed Her Boyfriend And A Friend

Mackenzie Shirilla’s case continues to draw public attention and renewed scrutiny following the release of the Netflix documentary The Crash, which revisits the fatal 2022 collision that killed two passengers.

The incident took place on July 31, 2022, in Strongsville. At the time, Shirilla was 17 years old and was driving a Toyota Camry after reportedly returning from a night of partying. Her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, 20, and friend Davion Flanagan, 19, were riding in the vehicle as passengers.

According to prosecutors, Mackenzie Shirilla intentionally accelerated her Toyota Camry to more than 100 mph before crashing into a brick building in Strongsville. The collision killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan instantly, while Shirilla survived with critical injuries.

Investigators alleged the crash was deliberate, pointing to the absence of any evidence that Shirilla attempted to brake before impact. “This was not some sort of party gone wrong. We know this isn’t impaired driving,” Assistant Prosecutor Tim Troup said in the Netflix documentary The Crash.

Ryan Fox of the Ohio State Highway Patrol also stated that the accelerator pedal was fully depressed at 100% at the time leading up to the crash.

“Three seconds before the impact, there was some steering input: right movement, left movement and then a hard right movement. It shifted from drive into neutral, back into drive again,” Fox said.

The investigation into Mackenzie Shirilla further strengthened prosecutors’ theory after details emerged about her relationship with Dominic Russo. Digital evidence and witness testimony reportedly showed that the couple had a turbulent relationship marked by repeated arguments. Prosecutors also alleged that Shirilla had previously made threats involving a car crash during disputes.

Ultimately, Nancy Russo of Cuyahoga County ruled that the collision was not the result of reckless driving but instead a deliberate act of murder.

Shirilla was convicted on all 12 charges against her, including four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and two counts of aggravated vehicular assault.

She was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 15 years to life in prison and will become eligible for parole in 2037. Her driver’s license was also permanently suspended. Shirilla is currently serving her sentence at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

During her appearance in The Crash, Mackenzie reflected on her prison life. “It’s really hard everyday in here. I try to wake up and be the best person I can be everyday, stay out of trial. There's not a moment that doesn't pass where I don't think about [Russo and Flanagan],” she said.

Despite her convictions, her family continues to deny that she intentionally crashed the car. Although her first appeal was denied, her parents are continuing to “fight her conviction.”