Mother Charged with DWI in Wrong-Way Crash That Killed Her 9-Year-Old Son: 'This Is a Tragedy'

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of a car accident.Photo:Getty

Getty

A 9-year-old boy died after his mother was allegedly driving under the influence and crashed in a head-on collision in Suffolk County, N.Y., in the early morning hours of Thursday, Aug. 22, theNew York State Police said in a press release.

The officer tried to pull her over, but Bedrick did not stop, per the police press release.

The deputy decided to forgo the attempts to pull her over and instead follow her while in the correct flow of traffic in the westbound lanes.

Eventually, the deputy then switched back to the eastbound lanes and then encountered a four-car crash at exit 42.

Stock image of police tape hangs across the street.Larry W. Smith/Getty

Larry W. Smith/Getty

“To give you an idea of the severity of the impact, the engine of the wrong-way driver vehicle was thrown from that vehicle into the woods, some distance from the collision,”  NYSP Major Stephen J. Udice said during a press conference Thursday, reportsNBC 4. “This is a true tragedy.”

The other drivers and passengers in the other vehicles survived the multi-car crash.

Haydee R. Meyer, 29, was operating a Mercedes Benz, David C. Picard, 24, was driving a Honda, and John Rotondi, 64, was operating a Chevrolet Pickup. Meyer and Picard were transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, N.Y., with non-life-threatening injuries. Rotondi was uninjured.

Bedrick is being held in police custody overnight. She is due to be arraigned Friday, Aug. 23 at 9 a.m. at the Suffolk County 1st District Court.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office is investigating the crash, reportsABC 7.

Stock image of LED light bar on police cruiser flashing red and blue emergency lights.Getty

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The New York State Police is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash or anyone with information to call (631) 756-3300.

A representative from the Suffolk County District Attorney did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for more information on Thursday.

source: people.com