Authorities in Suffolk County, New York charged a mother with multiple counts after she drove the wrong way while impaired Thursday causing a crash that killed her 9-year-old son.
Kerri Bedrick’s lawyer argued she was on medication for several illnesses including spina bifida and narcolepsy when she drove the wrong way on the Southern State Parkway.
The 32-year-old tried to flee an attempted arrest at around 2:15 a.m. Thursday and sped up while driving the wrong way on the highway causing a four-car collision.
Her 9-year-old son, Eli Henrys, perished in the crash. She and the drivers of the three other vehicles were hospitalized with non-critical injuries.
“To give you an idea of the severity of the impact, the engine of the wrong-way driving vehicle was thrown from that vehicle into the woods some distance from the collision point itself,” NY State Police Major Stephen Udice said.
Bedrick appeared confused in a blue hospital gown when she was brought to the courtroom Friday.
“My client was a victim. She was on medication that was prescribed for her,” her lawyer said.
“She is in denial, has not absorbed what happened to her and her son’s death.”
