What Is The Crash on Netflix?
On the morning of July 31, 2022, the community of Strongsville, Ohio, woke up to horrifying news: a car traveling 100 miles per hour had crashed into the side of a brick building, killing the two young passengers riding inside. The driver, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla, was taking her boyfriend Dom and their friend Davion home from a high school graduation gathering when the crash occurred. As detectives combed through the wreckage, what first appeared to be a tragic accident began to look like the scene of a calculated crime.
The Crash is now streaming on Netflix worldwide. The 2026 documentary was released on May 15, 2026, runs 93 minutes and is directed by Gareth Johnson and produced by Angharad Scott and executive produced by Rebecca North.
The Strongsville Crash — What Happened That Night
On July 31, 2022, Shirilla, Russo and Flanagan were driving home from a party in the early hours of the morning when Shirilla suddenly accelerated to 100 miles per hour and crashed her 2018 Toyota Camry into a brick building. Russo and Flanagan were declared dead at the scene. Shirilla was found unconscious with her foot still on the gas, sustaining three broken ribs, a broken femur and a lacerated liver, which required multiple surgeries.
Police initially believed the wreck was a freak accident, but after analysing her car's computer, they found that she made no attempt to brake or slow down and had even visited the exact location of the crash a few days prior. Authorities also found psilocybin mushrooms in her vehicle and determined all three were under the influence of marijuana.
Who Were Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan?
The crash killed 19-year-old Davion Flanagan, who was a recent Strongsville High School graduate, and Shirilla's boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo.
The primary focus of the documentary is the toxic and abusive relationship between Mackenzie and Dom, and how it seems Davion Flanagan was unfortunately "just cargo in the backseat" — a tragic figure whose death has received less public focus than the relationship at the centre of the case.
The Trial — What the Evidence Showed
Car event data revealed that Shirilla inexplicably sped up and did a hard steering to the right five seconds before the crash. Prosecutors argued that sustained acceleration and deliberate manoeuvres of the car would not be possible during a medical emergency.
Dom's mother Christine testified about recordings her son made just days before the crash, portraying Mackenzie as combative and threatening to end their relationship. In August 2023, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Shirilla guilty on all 12 counts, labelling her actions as "controlled, methodical, deliberate, intentional and purposeful."
The POTS Defence — What Was the Medical Claim?
Shirilla's defence argued that she had been diagnosed with POTS — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome — a chronic disorder of the autonomic nervous system that can cause sudden dizziness and blackouts. The defence argued this condition could have caused a medical episode before impact. However, the defence did not call a medical professional to testify about or confirm the POTS diagnosis during the trial, a gap that became central to the tension in the case.
Mackenzie Shirilla Speaks for the First Time in Netflix Documentary
Mackenzie Shirilla never spoke to police. She never testified at her trial. And in the years since the conviction, she had never publicly addressed what happened — until The Crash. In the documentary, Shirilla sits down on camera for the first time in a prison interview that the director says took considerable effort to secure.
In the documentary, Shirilla says of the crash: "I'm not saying I'm innocent. I was a driver of a tragedy, but I'm not a murderer." She maintains she has no memory of what happened and that "there was no intent whatsoever."
Where Is Mackenzie Shirilla Now?
Mackenzie Shirilla is currently serving two concurrent 15-years-to-life sentences at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. Her first parole hearing is scheduled for September 2037. One appeal for post-conviction relief was denied as untimely. Her request for review by the Ohio Supreme Court was also denied.
Shirilla's parents Steve and Natalie remain in daily contact with her and maintain she is innocent. She reportedly spends much of her time in prison painting and journaling.
Victims' families have made clear they want her to remain behind bars. Russo's sister said: "My brother's life and Davion's life was completely stolen. They don't get out in 15 years. They don't come back in 15 years."
