*UPDATE* Mother Causes Fatal Car Accident of her Son on Southern ...

Press Release

*UPDATE*

The operator of the wrong way vehicle has been identified as Kerri A. Bedrick, age 32 of Centerport, NY and was traveling with her son Eli D. Henrys, age 9 also of Centerport, NY. Bedrick was operating a black 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

The operators of the other involved vehicles were

Haydee R Meyer age 29 of Center Moriches, NY who was operating a 2018 Mercedes Benz, David C. Picard age 24 of Brentwood, NY who was operating a 2011 Honda and John Rotondi age 64 of Brooklyn, NY who was operating a 2019 Chevrolet Pickup.

Both Meyer and Picard were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Rotondi was uninjured.

Bedrick has been charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation 1^st (E Felony), Operating a Motor Vehicle while Impaired by Drugs 1^st offense (U Misdemeanor), Aggravated DWI: with a child-passenger less than 16 1^st offense (E Felony), Endangering Welfare of a Child (A Misdemeanor), Criminal Possession of A Stimulant (C Felony).

Bedrick will be held overnight and is due to be arraigned tomorrow morning August 23^rd, 2024, in Suffolk County 1^st District Court at 9:00 a.m.

On Thursday, August 22nd, 2024, Troopers along with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to the eastbound Southern State Parkway, around exit 42, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, for a wrong-way driver. The wrong-way driver, operating a dark colored late model SUV, caused a four-car fatal collision in which a nine-year-old boy from Centerport, NY, was killed. The nine-year-old boy was seat belted in the rear seat of the vehicle traveling the wrong way. Further investigation revealed the driver was the nine-year-old boy's mother.

Upon the Troopers arrival, they observed a female standing outside of her vehicle and they located her son in the back seat with a seat belt fastened. Troopers and the Sheriff's Deputies performed CPR on the child trying to the save the nine-year-old boy's life. The boy later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the wrong way vehicle, along with the other vehicles involved, had non-life-threatening injuries.

Numerous units of the New York State Police (NYSP) responded to assist with this investigation which included the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU), Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Unit, along with NYSP command staff from uniform and BCI. The NYSP thanks the New York State Department of Transportation and Suffolk County Police Department officers who assisted the NYSP with traffic control. Brentwood Fire Department, Brentwood Ambulance Service, Exchange Ambulance Service responded to transport the victims. Southside Hospital in Bayshore, NY, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Islip, NY, provided medical attention to those involved in the collision.

This incident is still under investigation and the State Police is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash or anyone with information to call (631) 756-3300.

All updates will be posted to the Newsroom.