If you haven’t watched the new Netflix documentary The Crash, it’s a must-see. On July 31, 2022, when she was just 17 years old, Mackenzie Shirilla drove her car into a building at 100 mph, killing passengers Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Forensic evidence showed she never tried to slow down and kept the accelerator fully engaged until impact. Somehow, she survived, and her life turned completely upside down. Mackenzie, now 21, is serving two concurrent 15-year-to-life sentences after a court convicted her of murder.
Her parents appeared in the documentary, which apparently proved problematic for her father, Steve Shirilla. He is now on administrative leave from his job as a teacher at an Ohio Catholic school.
Steve Shirilla made some strange comments in the documentary.
We 100% understand that parents will defend their children and stand behind them even when they shouldn’t. Mackenzie says doesn’t remember much about that day, so is it plausible that this was an accident? Sure. She also reportedly had medical conditions that could have caused her to black out.
In the documentary, which began streaming on May 15, 2026, Steve Shirilla and his wife, Natalie Shirilla, spoke about their daughter’s marijuana use. “I don’t have a problem with her smoking dope,” he said. “If you’re going to smoke a drug, that’s the one I believe you should take.”
When we first watched the documentary, we actually had to rewind to make sure we heard that correctly. Yep, he said it.
Think it, but don’t say it.
We often have to tell our children that they can think about anything they want, but they must filter those thoughts. Not everything is meant for public consumption. In a documentary where you want people to side with your family, those kinds of statements just aren’t great.
Steve Shirilla also chose a very questionable shirt for the filming. Underneath his open flannel button-down is a graphic T-shirt that very clearly reads “Boom.”
Your daughter crashed full speed into a building killing two people and that’s the best you could find? It almost appears to mock the entire situation.
Steve Shirilla’s employers evidently didn’t like what they saw.
According to Cleveland 19, Steve Shirilla works as an art and digital media teacher at Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland. Following the documentary’s release, school officials reportedly put the father on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The school shared the following message in an email to parents, which was then shared with Cleveland 19:
“Dear Mary Queen of Peace School Parents, Families, and Guardians,
We are investigating allegations made on social media that one of our teachers has demonstrated poor judgement. Upon learning of the allegation, the school acted immediately and placed the teacher on administrative leave. The investigation is ongoing. We want every parent and family to know that the safety, wellbeing, and trust of our students remain among our highest priorities. We take all student concerns seriously and are committed to responding promptly and responsibly whenever concerns are brought forward.
While we are limited in what we can share during an active personnel investigation, please know that we are reviewing the matter and will provide additional communication as appropriate.
We appreciate your continued support of the Mary Queen of Peace School community.”
When we first heard Steve Shirilla’s comment about marijuana use, we thought it was odd. Now, knowing that he works with elementary school children, it’s just gross. Saying if you’re going to do drugs that this is the one you approve of is just not smart. Your students, though they may not have seen it, will undoubtedly hear about your comments at some point. Sir, do better.
