Kerri Bedrick, a Long Island mother accused of killing her 9-year-old son in a wrong-way crash while driving under the influence of methamphetamines, had her driver’s license suspended for the 57th time during her arraignment on Wednesday, prosecutors revealed. The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder charges and was held without bail by Suffolk County Judge Richard I. Horowitz, who ordered her license suspended until the case concludes, according to CBS News.
The tragic crash occurred on August 22, when Bedrick, whose license was already suspended, drove the wrong way on the Southern State Parkway at around 2:15 a.m. According to authorities, she reached speeds of 100 miles per hour, traveling into oncoming traffic for over five miles before crashing head-on into multiple vehicles. The collision was so severe that the engine of her Mitsubishi Eclipse was launched into the woods.
Bedrick’s 9-year-old son, Eli D. Henrys, was found unconscious in the backseat and later died from his injuries at the hospital. Prosecutors allege that Bedrick was impaired during the crash, and investigators found a prescription bottle with the label torn off inside her car. She admitted to police that she had taken methamphetamines the evening before the crash.
In addition to the murder charges, Bedrick faces counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Her license had been suspended 56 times before the crash, with multiple suspensions occurring on the same days for different violations, as allowed by state law.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney described the incident as a “heinous act,” adding, “The loss of life in this incident, particularly that of a young child, is heartbreaking.”
Bedrick’s attorney, Scott Zerner, referred to the crash as “a tragic accident,” stating that Bedrick was deeply affected by the loss of her son. “No one on this planet is more upset about it than she is,” Zerner told The Post. He explained that Bedrick had been prescribed methamphetamines for medical reasons and was not under the influence of any non-prescribed drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
If convicted on the top charge, Bedrick faces 25 years to life in prison. Her next court date is scheduled for October 22.