Courts / Dublin / Report
Horror crash driver walked away while friend lay dead in passenger seat, court hears
Summary
Jake Kelly, 22, was sentenced to seven years in prison for dangerous driving that resulted in the death of his friend, Ross Rice, in a crash in July 2023. Kelly was driving at a speed of 162km/h on a road with a 60km/h speed limit when his car crashed into the back of an articulated lorry. The passenger side of the car was covered in tarmacadam, which poured out of the lorry upon impact. Ross Rice died instantly from blunt force injuries. Kelly was helped out of the car by the truck driver and then walked away from the scene. He later told gardaí he was unsure if Rice had gotten out of the car and thought he might have been in the fields nearby. Kelly pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to report an accident, and driving without insurance. He was on bail for other offences at the time. The court heard that Kelly had a history of addiction in his family and had been severely depressed since the incident.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Horror crash driver walked away while friend lay dead in passenger seat, court hears. Charges or matters: one count of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Rice at Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare on July 18, 2023; failing to report an accident and driving without insurance on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 2023 Incident
- July 18, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 11 Adjournment
- 2025-11-25 Publication
Why: She accepted that Mr Rice was the owner of the car but, because he was disqualified from driving at the time, Kelly was driving for him. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Rice at Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co Kildare on July 18, 2023; failing to report an accident and driving without insurance on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She accepted that Mr Rice was the owner of the car but, because he was disqualified from driving at the time, Kelly was driving for him.; She said she needed time to consider the case and adjourned it for two weeks to December 11 for sentence.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Ballyfermot Road
Topics
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