Police say a 9-year-old boy has died and his mother faces driving under the influence charges following a crash on the wrong-way eastbound Southern State Parkway.
According to police, four cars were involved in the accident that occurred around 2:30 a.m. near exit 42.
Police say the Centerport woman, identified as 32-year-old Kerri A. Bedrick, had been traveling the wrong way on the parkway for five miles and may have previously been traveling the wrong way on Sunrise Highway. Her son was identified as Eli D. Henrys, also of Centerport.
Bedrick was driving a black 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
When a sheriff spotted the woman, he tried to pull her over. Police said the mother was speeding.
All other drivers were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The eastbound lanes of the Southern State Parkway were closed this morning but have since reopened.
Bedrick was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated driving while intoxicated, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, unlawful possession of a stimulant, and aggravated driving without a license.
She will be held overnight and is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday in Suffolk County First District Court.
