Ever since The Crash landed on Netflix, I have seen viewers trying to piece together exactly what happened on the night of July 31, 2022. The documentary moves through the case emotionally and dramatically, but the real-life timeline behind the Strongsville, Ohio crash is even more disturbing when laid out step by step.
The case centers on Mackenzie Shirilla, who was 17 years old at the time of the crash, and the deaths of her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident eventually became a murder investigation that sparked national debate.
Here is a full breakdown of the key events surrounding the case.
2018 to 2022: Mackenzie and Dominic Begin Dating
According to court testimony and reporting surrounding the case, Mackenzie Shirilla and Dominic Russo had been in an on-and-off relationship for several years before the crash. Their relationship reportedly started when Mackenzie was around 13 years old and Dominic was 16.
Friends and family later described the relationship as emotionally volatile, with repeated breakups, arguments, and allegations of controlling behavior. Prosecutors would later argue that the unstable relationship became central to the motive behind the crash.
July 2022: Relationship Problems Escalate
In the weeks leading up to the crash, prosecutors claimed tensions between Mackenzie and Dominic intensified significantly.
Reports connected to the case alleged there were heated arguments and threats before the incident. One witness later testified that Mackenzie had previously threatened to crash a car with Dominic inside during an emotional confrontation.
Investigators also later uncovered GPS evidence suggesting Mackenzie had driven around the crash location days before the incident, something prosecutors described as a possible “dry run.”
July 31, 2022: The Fatal Crash
In the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla was driving with Dominic Russo, 20, and Davion Flanagan, 19, after leaving a party in Strongsville, Ohio.
At approximately 5:30 a.m., the vehicle slammed into a commercial brick building at nearly 100 miles per hour. The impact was catastrophic. Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan were killed instantly, while Mackenzie survived with severe injuries.
First responders reportedly described the vehicle as nearly split apart from the force of the collision.
Initially, authorities treated the crash as a tragic accident.
August to November 2022: Investigation Changes Direction
As investigators reviewed the crash data, the case began shifting dramatically.
Vehicle black box evidence reportedly showed the accelerator was pressed fully down for several seconds before impact, while no meaningful braking occurred. Surveillance footage and crash reconstruction analysis also became major parts of the investigation.
Toxicology reports found no alcohol in Mackenzie Shirilla’s system, although reports connected to the case stated marijuana use and psilocybin mushrooms were factors being investigated.
By November 2022, Shirilla was arrested and charged with multiple felony counts, including murder and aggravated vehicular homicide.
August 2023: Guilty Verdict
The trial became one of the most closely watched true crime cases in Ohio.
Instead of a jury trial, Mackenzie Shirilla chose a bench trial, meaning the verdict was decided entirely by a judge. Prosecutors argued the crash was a deliberate murder-suicide attempt fueled by the toxic relationship between Mackenzie and Dominic. The defense maintained there was no proof of intent and suggested a possible medical episode contributed to the crash.
In August 2023, Judge Nancy Margaret Russo found Shirilla guilty on all major charges. During sentencing, the judge famously referred to her as “hell on wheels,” a phrase now closely associated with the case.
Shirilla received two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life in prison.
2026: Netflix Revives Public Debate
The release of The Crash on May 15, 2026 reignited public fascination with the case. The documentary quickly became one of Netflix’s top trending true crime titles and sparked heated online debates over whether the evidence truly proved intent beyond reasonable doubt.
On Reddit and social media, reactions remain sharply divided. Many viewers believe the forensic evidence overwhelmingly supports the conviction, while others continue questioning aspects of the prosecution’s theory.
What makes the story so unsettling for many viewers is that it sits in a gray area between reckless teenage behavior, toxic relationships, and deliberate violence. Even years later, the case continues to provoke strong emotional reactions online.
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