How did the accident investigation lead to the murder charges against Mackenzie Cirilla?
Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Elliott Lawson said he was conducting a reconstruction of the crash and calculated that the car was traveling at an average speed of 97.8 mph as it approached the intersection where it struck the building.
Toxicology tests later detected THC, the active chemical in marijuana, in MacKenzie’s blood, but there were no traces of alcohol or psilocybin, Tropp said.
Police said forensic vehicle investigators determined the car was “not at fault” as “the brakes, steering, tires and accelerator were working properly.”
Ohio State Highway Patrol Sergeant Ryan Fox said in a written statement that the Camry’s electronic data recorder showed the gas pedal was “fully depressed” in the five seconds before the crash.
“Most people would want to slow down or stop their car to avoid such an impact,” Fox said. “In this case, the brakes were not applied.”
According to the data, three seconds before the collision he continued, the steering wheel moved sharply to the right, then to the left, then to the right, causing the car to switch from drive to neutral and then back to drive.
“I think the boys were trying to save their lives,” Troup said. “I think Dom and Davion were pulling the steering wheel or grabbing the gear shift, but it was too late.”
