True Story Behind 'The Crash', Was It Planned Or An Accident, Where Are The Victims' Families Now?

The Crash has been making headlines ever since its release on Netflix. The show has become a topic of discussion. The documentary follows the story of the 17-year-old, Mackenzie Shirilla, who was found guilty of the murder of her boyfriend. So, as the buzz continues to grow, let's take a look at the dark true story behind the documentary.

What happened on July 31, 2022?

On July 31, 2022, around 5:30 am, Mackenzie was driving her Toyota Camry when she smashed into a brick building at the intersection of Alameda and Progress Drive in Strongsville. The police arrived almost an hour later to find a car 'split in two'. Domnic (Dom) was lying in the front seat, while Davion was 'stacked on top' of him; both were pronounced dead at the scene. Meanwhile, Mechenzie's father revealed that she sustained a femur, three broken ribs, a lacerated liver and a lacerated kidney during the crash. However, things took a turn when first responders found "a small amount" of marijuana in Mackenzie's purse. Troup revealed in the 2023 trial and said:

"I'm ticking through the potentials of what could have caused this crash. Was it operator error? Was it substance abuse? Or could it be a much more serious felony?"

Friends and family reflect on Mackenzie's relationship with Dominic

In text messages between Mackenzie and Dom shown in The Crash, she referred to a past instance of him cheating, which, according to friends in the documentary, caused trust issues for her. After the crash, one of Dom's friends told the police that Mackenzie would be all in love with Dom one minute and threaten to dump him the next. Dom's brother, Angelo, also told the police in September 2022 that Dom tried to break up with Mackenzie "multiple times, even in July," but they remained together. Another friend, Rosie, called their relationship toxic, saying, "It wasn't daily, weekly arguments, anything crazy like that. Mackenzie loved her life a lot; she really liked what she had going on with Dom."

How did Mackenzie Shirilla get charged with murder?

During a crash reconstruction, Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Elliot Rawson said he calculated that the car was averaging 97.8 miles per hour as it approached the intersection where it hit the building. Troup further revealed that they found THC in Mackenzie's blood, but no traces of alcohol or psilocybin. However, a forensic auto investigator found that "the braking, the steering, the tyres, the acceleration were working properly," which meant the car didn't malfunction. Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt., Ryan Fox said the Camry's electronic data recorder showed the accelerator pedal was "pressed all the way down" five seconds before the crash, which contrasted with what most people would do.

He said, "In this case, there was no braking." The data showed that, seconds before impact, he continued, the steering wheel went right, then left, then took a hard right. He revealed, "I think the boys were trying to save their lives. I think Dom and Davion were yanking on the wheel, grabbing at the gearshift, and it was just too late." On the other hand, the police were told by a friend of Dom's mom that Mackenzie had allegedly threatened to crash a car with Dom in it two weeks before he died. Mackenzie was arrested for murder on November 4, 2022.

What happened at the trial?

Mackenzie pleaded not guilty and waived her right to a jury trial. During a four-day bench trial, Troup argued that text messages, social media posts and witness testimony painted a picture of a toxic relationship that that dom wanted out of. He said, "She drove the car into the wall. She made up her mind and never went back." Mackenzie claimed she had no recollection of what had happened or of the morning's events. Her mother testified that her daughter had been diagnosed with POTS, a chronic disorder of the autonomic nervous system that causes tachycardia, which can result in sudden dizziness, in 2017, and suggested she'd had a medical emergency that caused her to black out.

However, the judge found Mackenzie guilty of four counts of murder as well as four counts of felonious assault, two of aggravated vehicular homicide, one of drug possession and one of possessing criminal tools. In August 2023, she was sentenced to two terms of 15 years to life in prison, to be served concurrently. At the hearing, she admitted that she was "deeply sorry" and she hoped Dominic and Davion's families could see that she "didn't do this on purpose."

Where are Dominic and Davion's families now?

During The Crash, Davion's sister, Davyne, called Mackenzie's apology the "worst" she'd ever heard, saying, "I know when someone's being fake or not, and that was not real." The family started a scholarship in Davion's honour that has been a part of the fall of 2022. On the other hand, Dom's dad, Frank Russo and older sister, Christine Russo, recounted in the doc how they had supported Mackenzie up through her arrest. Christine said:

"We still thought she'd been drinking, or drugs involved, accidents happen all the time. You never in a million years think this girl killed your brother."

Mackenzie on Dominic and Davion's death?

Mackenzie spoke about the case for the first time since the trial and said, "I know I'm not a monster." She spoke about how she and Dom "would've probably been married by now, she said, describing him as "so protective and loving over me..." We were partners," she said, "and while we fought, we would always be cool later." She added, "That day or a couple of hours later, we would be watching movies on the couch, eating popcorn." She shared that they were driving back to Dom's that night and said:

"I remember turning on the street, then I woke up in the hospital the next day. My whole life is shattered."

What are your thoughts on The Crash? Let us know.

Next Read: Is 'Outlander' Season 9 On Cards? Fans Think 'Jamie Fraser' And 'Claire Fraser's' Story Is Not Over

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)