A new Netflix documentary revisits a 2022 crash that killed two Cuyahoga County men.
“The Crash” examines the events of July 31, 2022, in Strongsville, a Cleveland suburb. Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19, died in the crash. Driver MacKenzie Shirilla is serving a life sentence and will not be eligible for parole for at least 15 years. Her first chance at parole comes in 2037.
Shirilla, now 21, is currently incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville.
What happened on July 31, 2022?
According to court records and details presented in the documentary, Shirilla, her boyfriend Dominic Russo, and their mutual friend Davion Flanagan were inside Shirilla’s Toyota Camry in a business park area of Strongsville.
Court records state the three had attended a party earlier and left around 5 a.m.
At about 5:30 a.m., the Camry crashed into a brick building at an estimated speed of nearly 100 mph. Shirilla, who was 17 at the time, suffered serious injuries. Russo, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, and Flanagan, who was in the backseat, were killed in the crash.
Investigators determined that during the five seconds before impact, no one attempted to brake and the accelerator stayed fully pressed to the floor, according to court records.
Court records and the documentary also state that about three seconds before the crash, investigators detected movement of the steering wheel and the gear shift moving from drive to neutral before returning to drive.
Less than two seconds before impact, the car became airborne after striking a curb, court records say.
According to court records, Shirilla had Psilocybin mushrooms in her possession at the time of the crash, though only THC was found in her system.
What charges did MacKenzie Shirilla face?
Shirilla was first charged in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court before her case was transferred so she could be tried as an adult. She chose a bench trial instead of a jury trial.
Her defense team argued that she suffered from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and claimed the condition caused her to lose consciousness while driving.
Additional evidence included testimony regarding the turbulent relationship between Shirilla and Russo. Court records referenced a previous incident in which Russo allegedly contacted his family for help after Shirilla reportedly drove erratically and threatened to crash the vehicle.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Nancy Margaret Russo — who is not related to Dominic Russo — found Shirilla guilty on multiple counts, including murder, felonious assault and aggravated vehicular homicide.
In August 2023, the judge sentenced Shirilla to the only punishment allowed under Ohio law for murder — 15 years to life for each death — but ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
What has happened to MacKenzie Shirilla since?
After her conviction, Shirilla appealed the ruling to the Eighth District Court of Appeals, but the court rejected her appeal. The Ohio Supreme Court later declined to hear the case, leaving her conviction and sentence in place.
In March 2026, judges also rejected a second appeal tied to a petition for post-conviction relief after determining the filing was submitted one day beyond the allowed 365-day deadline. Petitions for post-conviction relief typically involve claims outside the original trial, including newly discovered evidence or ineffective legal counsel.
Shirilla has appealed the decision to reject her petition to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Leave a Reply