Moffat learner driver jailed for crash that killed three teenagers
A learner driver who killed three 16-year-old friends in a crash when he drove his car for the first time at excessive speed has been jailed for nearly five years.
Jake Loy, from Moffat, 19, lost control of his Honda Civic just after midnight on the A711 in Cargenbridge on March 16th, 2022 after taking it out on a public road for the first time, without the supervision required by a provisional driving licence.
Loy, then 17, had collected three friends prior to the crash and was estimated to be driving at more than 60mph on the country road when he lost control and ploughed into the path of a Honda CR-V travelling northbound.
Passengers Tyler Johnston, Ian Cannon and Finlay Johns, all 16, died at the scene and three men in the Honda CR-V suffered serious injuries.
Loy pleaded guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving at a previous hearing at the High Court in Glasgow.
Defending, Donald Findlay KC said Loy had no memory of the crash due to a head injury.
Mr Findlay said: "It was quite moving when he said that if he could take the place of them, he would have rather it had been him."
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Psychologist Professor Gary MacPherson assessed Loy and found he was "immature", the court heard, and Mr Findlay suggested he may have wanted to "endear himself" to his peer group and "impress" his friends.
The court heard that Mr Cannon had sent a Snapchat message prior to the crash saying he was "scared" because Loy was a "terrible driver and flooring it".
The collision split the Honda Civic in half, with some parts of the vehicle found 25m along the road, the court heard.
The court heard the other driver had been adhering to the 60mph speed limit and although Loy's speed was "unknown", it would have exceeded this.
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Judge Lord Harrower told the court that Loy was driving his own car, but had never taken it out on a public road before and should have been supervised.
Loy collected Mr Cannon and Mr Johns from Moffat, where all three boys lived, then stopped at a motorway service station before driving to Dumfries to collect Mr Johnston, the court heard.
Loy was sentenced to four years and eight months, and banned from driving for eight years.
Due to Scottish sentencing guidelines for under-25s, introduced the same year as the crash, Loy's sentence was reduced.
Moira Orr, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said: "This was a truly tragic incident and our thoughts remain with all those involved.
"Jake Loy chose to drive his vehicle despite not holding a full licence and being an inexperienced road user.
"His decision to drive in the dangerous manner that he did has changed many lives forever.
"We hope this conviction brings some level of comfort to the loved ones of the three young men who lost their lives as well as those who were injured."
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