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Horror crash driver who walked away while friend lay dead in passenger seat gets 6.5 years
Summary
A driver who crashed a car into an articulated lorry at high speed and walked away from the scene while his friend lay dead in the passenger seat was jailed for six and a half years. Jake Kelly, who was driving at 162km/h on a road with a 60km/h speed limit, was helped out of the car by the truck driver but then left the scene. The body of his friend, Ross Rice, was discovered hours later. The court heard that Kelly had no idea if Rice had survived the crash and later told gardai he thought Rice might have been in the fields nearby. The victim's family described the loss as devastating, with Rice's mother having died in 2020 and Rice having an 11-month-old baby with his partner. Judge Martina Baxter noted the tragic circumstances and the irony that Rice had been banned from driving, yet Kelly drove his car without a licence. Kelly was found to be remorseful and has been diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. Jake Kelly pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Horror crash driver who walked away while friend lay dead in passenger seat gets 6.5 years. 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
- 2025-12-16 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
Convicted Person
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: Photo: Collins) By Isabel Hayes and Sonya McLean A driver who crashed a car at speed into the back of an articulated lorry and walked away from the scene while his friend lay dead in the passenger seat has been jailed for six and a half years. The judge handed down a sentence of seven and a half years and suspended the final year on a number of conditions, including that Kelly engage with the Probation Service.; 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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