A tragic incident occurred on Long Island as a mother faces charges following a devastating wrong-way crash. The collision resulted in the heartbreaking loss of her 9-year-old son and caused injuries to multiple individuals. Authorities are currently investigating the incident.
A Centerport resident named Kerri A. Bedrick, 32, was reportedly driving a 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV in the opposite direction on the Southern State Parkway near Exit 42 in Islip around 2:15 a.m., according to authorities at a press conference.
A Suffolk County deputy sheriff’s attempt to pull over the driver was ignored, leading to a tragic four-car collision that claimed the life of her young son, Eli Henrys, according to Major Stephen J. Udice of the New York State Police.
Two other vehicles were involved in the pileup. The drivers, a 29-year-old woman operating a 2018 Mercedes Benz and a 24-year-old man driving a 2011 Honda, were taken to a local hospital. Fortunately, their injuries were not life-threatening, according to the authorities.
The authorities at the scene conducted a field sobriety test on her, but they have chosen not to disclose the results.
According to a news release, she is facing multiple charges, including felony aggravated unlicensed operation, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated DWI with a child less than 16, and criminal possession of a stimulant.
According to the authorities, the driver was reportedly seen traveling in the wrong direction on Sunrise Highway, about 5 miles away from the crash site, before the tragic accident occurred.
The impact of the collision was incredibly powerful, causing the engine of the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction to be forcefully propelled into the nearby woods as per the authorities.
A 9-year-old boy was taken out of the back seat of the SUV by a deputy sheriff and a New York state trooper.
The two responders provided immediate medical assistance, including CPR, to Eli at the scene before he was transported to the hospital, where he unfortunately passed away.
The authorities have confirmed that, aside from the young boy, the driver of the wrong-way vehicle and the motorists in two of the other cars suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.
The boy’s mother is currently receiving medical care at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The state police have chosen not to disclose the identities of the woman and her son until their family has been notified.