The Long Island mother who authorities say was intoxicated when she crashed her car in a head-on collision on Long Island’s Southern State Parkway — killing her 9-year-old son — has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including aggravated DWI with a child-passenger less than 16.
Kerri A. Bedrick, 32 of Centerport, was in a wheelchair when she appeared in Suffolk County First District Court Friday morning for her arraignment. WABC reported.
Authorities say Bedrick was driving westbound in the eastbound lanes near exit 42 in Islip around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday when she crashed her black 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross head-on with another vehicle.
Bedrick’s son, 9-year-old Eli D. Henrys, was pulled from the wreck by first responders and received life-saving measures at the scene. He was pronounced dead a short time later in an ambulance on its way to the hospital.
She was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation; operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs: first offense; aggravated DWI: with a child-passenger less than 16: first offense; endangering the welfare of a child; and criminal possession of a stimulant, New York State Police said in a news release.
During her arraignment Friday, prosecutors told the judge a drug recognition expert had determined Bedrick was intoxicated while driving, News 12 Long Island reported.
They added her license was expired at the time of the fatal crash and she’d had 56 suspensions in the past — including one for a previous DWI.
Investigators said they found pills in her vehicle and added she admitted to taking methamphetamines at 8 p.m. the night before the crash, according to WABC.
Scott Zerner, Bedrick’s attorney, told Newsday his client is the victim in a case of domestic violence in Suffolk County. She also suffers from multiple medical ailments.
Zerner didn’t immediately return a request for comment Friday afternoon.
A total of four cars were involved in the collision, New York State Police Major Stephen J. Udice told reporters during a news conference.
Bedrick and the drivers of two of the other vehicles involved were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. The driver of the fourth car was not inured, police said.
Bedrick’s bail is set at $1 million. She’s expected back in court on Aug. 26