A night out watching the darts turned into an unthinkable tragedy for four young friends in their 20s—and now a man is facing charges in connection with the horror crash that claimed their lives.
James Diggle, 27, has been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving, according to court documents. The charges stem from a devastating early-morning collision on July 24 in Huyton, Merseyside, where a car slammed into a lamppost on East Prescot Road.
The victims—Jack Diggle, 23, Benjamin Dooley, 23, Andrew Roberts, 24, and Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26—were all killed at the scene. They had been heading to watch a darts match when their vehicle left the road.
In the days that followed, heartbroken families shared emotional tributes to their “loving” and “beautiful” boys.
Jack’s mother described him as “kind, quiet, thoughtful, and loving,” adding that he adored his family and was blessed with a close circle of lifelong friends.
Benjamin’s sister, Demi, wrote: “Ben my little brother my one and only sibling… my heart is broken. Feels like a terrible dream.”
Andrew’s mom, Linda, called him her “beautiful blue-eyed boy” and said: “My life will never be the same with you not here.”
Craig’s family remembered him as a “devoted and loving father to his two children,” noting that his pride in being a dad “shone through in everything he did.”
James Diggle, of Alundale Road in West Derby, is scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Saturday. Police have urged the public not to speculate online, as active criminal proceedings are now underway.
As the community mourns four lives cut short, many are left wondering—what really happened in those final moments before the crash?
