Islip, New York – Kerri A. Bedrick, 32, of Centerport, has been arrested following a devastating wrong-way crash on the Southern State Parkway that tragically claimed the life of her 9-year-old son, Eli Henrys. The incident occurred early Thursday morning when Bedrick allegedly drove her 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SUV on the wrong side of the parkway, leading to a four-car pile-up near Exit 42 in Islip.
According to authorities, the crash took place at approximately 2:15 a.m. Bedrick, who was reportedly impaired by drugs at the time, accelerated after a Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull her over. Moments later, her vehicle collided with another car, causing a chain reaction that involved four vehicles in total.
Eli Henrys was pulled from the back seat by responding officers and was rushed to the hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. The drivers of two other vehicles, identified as Haydee Meyer, 29, and David Picard, 24, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were also transported to the hospital. The driver of the fourth vehicle involved in the crash was not injured.
Bedrick was apprehended at the scene and subjected to a field sobriety test. She has been charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated driving while intoxicated (DWI) with a child less than 16, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, endangering the welfare of a child, illegal possession of a stimulant, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle. She is currently being held overnight and is scheduled to be arraigned at Suffolk County First District Court on Friday morning.
The community is mourning the tragic loss of young Eli Henrys, with many expressing their grief and shock over the incident. The investigation into the crash is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the events leading up to the fatal collision.