Learner driver admits fault in crash which killed three teenagers
Jake Loy pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving at the High Court in Glasgow
A learner driver has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, after a crash which killed three of his friends.
Jake Loy, now 19, lost control of the Honda Civic he was driving, ploughing into another car on the A711 around midnight on March 16 2022.
His passengers, Tyler Johnston, Ian Cannon, and Finlay Johns- all aged 16- were pronounced dead at the scene.
Loy, who only held a provisional licence at the time of the crash, appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on May 13.
Passengers were "scared" before fatal crash
All three of the boys who died had attended Moffat Academy in Dumfries-shire, with Finlay studying for his Highers while Ian had left school and Tyler had gone on to college.
Finlay and Ian were also both keen footballers, both playing for local team Moffat Uppers.
The court heard Ian had messaged a group on Snapchat from the car before the crash saying he was “scared”, and that Loy was a “terrible driver”.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC told the court: “He was saying that he was scared because Jake Loy was swerving all over the place, that he was a terrible driver, and he was flooring it.
"It is not possible to pinpoint the precise point in the journey the message was sent."
"Never seen damage like that"
The car Loy hit was being driven by Stephen Jackson, who recalled seeing a black car suddenly “coming towards him side on” as he rounded a slight bend in the road.
He tried to avoid the car but Loy went “straight into the front” of Jackson’s Honda CR-V.
Loy’s car was split in two by the force of the collision, with one experienced crash investigator saying he had “never seen damage like that to a car”.
An off-duty police officer initially stopped at the seen to help before emergency crews arrived, but the three boys had already died.
Mr Prentice said it was an “almighty impact”, adding: “The Crown position is that the driver inexperience and excessive speed were significant factors in the loss of control of the vehicle."
"Inexperience and excessive speed were significant factors"
Mr Jackson was also badly hurt in the crash, suffering a fractured kneecap and hand, as well as bruising.
Since the accident, he has struggled to take part in sports, and has received psychological treatment.
The charge Loy pleaded guilty to also stated he seriously injured the man and two of his passengers.
Donald Findlay KC, defending, later told the hearing that Loy had "no recollection" of the crash.
He added: "That being so, the precise cause of the loss of control cannot be determined.
"Whether it was speed, a distraction in the vehicle or any external distraction - an animal or whatever - no explanation can be forthcoming."
Loy was also injured during the crash.
Family and friends of the three victims attended court in Glasgow but made no comments after the hearing.
Loy’s bail has been continued by Lord Harrower pending sentencing in July.