A mom from New York has pleaded not guilty to depraved indifference murder in a car crash that resulted in her getting her license suspended for the 57th time.
Kerri Bedrick, 32, faced a number of charges after the crash took place in the early hours of the morning on August 22.
Bedrick had been driving with her son in the back of the car when she was spotted by a Suffolk County deputy sheriff, who saw her traveling westbound on the eastbound lane.
According to a statement released by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, Bedrick’s vehicle was travelling ‘at a high rate of speed’.
The deputy began pursuing Bedrick’s car down the road and attempted to stop her, but the mom was accused of accelerating and driving around the police car when he attempted to escort her off the road.
She allegedly reached speeds of 100 miles per hour, forcing oncoming cars to veer around her as the officer followed her for more than five miles.
As Bedrick drove east of Exit 42N, she allegedly crashed into multiple vehicles before striking a Mercedes head-on, bringing the car chase to an end.
The impact caused ‘catastrophic damage’ to both cars, according to the statement, with Bedrick’s engine launched into the nearby woods in the process.
Kerri Bedrick was accused of being under the influence while driving (FOX 5 New York)
Responders found Bedrick’s son unconscious in the backseat of the car, and despite attempts to deliver life saving measures, he was sadly pronounced dead upon arrival at South Shore Hospital.
Two other drivers involved in the crash also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
A search of Bedrick’s vehicle uncovered multiple pills in a prescription bottle, and after the mom was taken to hospital it was determined she was under the influence of methamphetamines.
A review of her driving history also revealed that she’d already received 56 suspensions on eight different dates, the DA’s office said.
The 32-year-old was indicted on charges of depraved indifference murder, manslaughter, aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child.
The crash involved four cars in total (Eyewitness News ABC7NY)
Bedrick’s lawyer, Scott Zerner, told The Post the crash was an ‘accident’.
“No one on this planet is more upset about it than she is,” he said.
Zerner also claimed Bedrick ‘suffers from ailments’ and had been prescribed the methamphetamine by a doctor.
“She was not under influence of any alcohol or any non-prescription drug that she was not prescribed,” he said.
Bedrick, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, is being held without bail and has her license suspended again. She is set to return to court on October 22, and is facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the charges.
UNILAD has contacted the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Scott Zerner for comment on the case.