A 27-year-old man has been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving following a crash that killed four men in Huyton, Merseyside. James Diggle, of Alundale Road in West Derby, Liverpool, is due to appear before Liverpool Magistrates' Court, police confirmed.
The charges relate to the deaths of Jack Diggle, 23, Benjamin Dooley, 23, Andrew Roberts, 24, and Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26. The four men were travelling in a black Cupra when it struck a lamp-post on Liverpool Road in Huyton on 24 July 2026.
What do we know about the crash itself?
According to earlier reporting, the vehicle came off the road just before 02:00 BST while heading from Liverpool towards Knowsley. A 27-year-old passenger who was also in the car survived the collision and was taken to hospital in a stable condition, as previously reported by a national broadcaster's report.
The scale of the emergency response led to eleven roads being closed in the surrounding area while investigators examined the scene, including Liverpool Road and East Prescot Road, according to the same report. Separately, a temporary flight restriction zone banning drones was imposed over Liverpool Road in Huyton for the duration of the investigation, according to Metro.
Our earlier coverage detailed the immediate aftermath, including the initial confirmation of the four deaths and the extensive road closures that followed as officers worked to secure the scene overnight.
How have the victims' families responded?
In the days after the crash, relatives of the four men who died paid tribute to them, while Merseyside Police continued to appeal to the public for information that might help establish exactly what happened before the collision.
What happens next in the case?
Merseyside Police said Diggle was due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, though a specific hearing date was not given in the force's statement. The case is expected to proceed through the courts as the investigation into the circumstances of the fatal crash continues.
Key Facts
- James Diggle, 27, of West Derby, Liverpool, charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving
- Victims named as Jack Diggle, 23, Benjamin Dooley, 23, Andrew Roberts, 24, and Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26
- Crash occurred on Liverpool Road, Huyton, just before 02:00 BST on 24 July 2026
- A 27-year-old surviving passenger was hospitalised in stable condition
- Eleven roads were closed and a drone flight restriction zone imposed during the investigation
