Trial By Social Media

Currently trending at number 2 on the Top 10 Films in the UK Today on Netflix UK is the new documentary concerning Mackenzie Shirilla and the fatal car crash in July 2022.

Shirilla remains a contentious figure on the internet and among True Crime consumers. In this new documentary entitled The Crash, viewers will (somewhat) examine the situation and personalities surrounding the car crash which killed two people, many people believe deliberately.

At the age of 17, at 5.34 am on July 31^st  2022, in a quiet suburb of Strongsville, Ohio, USA, Shirilla drove her car into the wall of a building at over 100 mph (160 km/h). The impact killed the other two occupants of the car: her boyfriend Dominic Russo (aged 20) and friend Davion Flanagan (aged 19). Shirilla somehow survived, though she was gravely injured and spent months in hospital.

With the bare facts, it would seem like a tragic accident. Three teenagers returning from an evening of hanging out with friends lose control of a vehicle. Yet, despite coming from various teenage ‘gatherings’, no alcohol or THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) nor any other drug was found in Shirilla’s system. Furthermore, the extremely haunting CCTV footage of the accident shows Shirilla turning the corner onto the road where the accident would take place in a slow and controlled manner. Not the action of someone driving under the influence.

Experts examined the data box (or black box) in the car, and it showed, rather horrifically, that Shirilla’s foot (which donned a white fluffy Prada slipper which would be visible amidst the twisted wreckage) never left the gas pedal in the final 5 seconds leading up to the crash. She didn’t touch the brake, and the steering wheel was turned slightly to the left, then the right before finally straightening towards the brick wall. Had one of the other doomed occupants of the car tried to grab the wheel from Shirilla? Forensics found the car was operating correctly, so the gas pedal had not been jammed as some believed.

Why would a pretty, popular, 17-year-old girl who had only just graduated from high school with her entire life ahead of her, drive into a wall at 100 mph? As you can imagine, everyone has their theories. The Crash interviews Shirilla’s parents and the victim’s parents along with friends of all three.

Before the incident, Shirilla had amassed a following on TikTok where she modelled outfits and took part in viral trends. Even before Shirilla was tried, her (now deactivated) social media accounts did not work in her favour in the opinion of the general public. Shirilla was an avid weed smoker; there were plenty of videos of her driving while smoking ‘fat blunts’ or taking a rip from a bong. Shirilla’s parents were aware she smoked weed, and her dad (wearing an ill-advised cartoon graphic T-shirt saying ‘BOOM!’ while being interviewed) said he didn’t mind her smoking weed; he didn’t mind anyone smoking weed in fact! It’s better than alcohol or shooting up!

Despite many of Shirilla’s friends (some of whom refused to be interviewed by the police but did speak to Netflix) in the documentary assuring us she was the nicest girl. Yet, many others claimed Shirilla was a ‘mean girl’ and bully who aspired to be like Regina George (antagonist in the movie Mean Girls).

Shirilla’s and Russo’s relationship is the cause of much speculation. The couple had been dating for 4 years, with some quick maths that would mean Shirilla was 13 when they started dating, and Russo was 16. Russo’s friends and family reported that the couple’s relationship was extremely volatile with frequent break-and-make-ups. Russo was also reportedly a victim of Shirilla’s temper and verbal abuse. Was the crash the result of yet another argument where Shirilla lost control of her temper and Flanagan was, sadly, just ‘collateral damage’.

The documentary leads its viewers down many avenues with many possible reasons for Shirilla’s behaviour. There is much the documentary leaves out of the narrative; whether this was because of time or legal constraints, it’s hard to say. Consequently, the picture the audience are left with is rather confusing. Some have argued that this particular documentary (there are plenty of others on this case with a less sympathetic view of Shirilla) is too kind to the accused. However, when Shirilla is finally interviewed on-screen, she tries to come off as relatable and tragic, yet Netflix kept rolling while she asked her lawyer at the end of the interview whether she touched on everything and she didn’t say too much or “sound too crazy”.

Yet again, the Shirilla case has set the internet alight with speculation and proclamations of her guilt or innocence.

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