Merseyside crash: James Diggle charged after Huyton deaths 2026

Key Points

• 27-year-old James Diggle of Alundale Road in West Derby has been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving.
• The charges are in relation to a deadly crash on East Prescot Road in Huyton in the early hours of 24 July 2026, where four people lost their lives.
• The names of the victims have been revealed to be 23-year-old Jack Diggle, 23-year-old Benjamin Dooley, 24-year-old Andrew Roberts, and 26-year-old Craig Shackleton-Brady.
• It is stated that a black Cupra Formentor car collided with a lamppost when it was speeding from Liverpool to Knowsley.
• There was one more occupant of the same age as the driver – 27 years – who sustained injuries in the crash and was admitted to the hospital.
• James Diggle is scheduled to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on August 08, 2026.
• The police have requested not to make any comments on the ongoing criminal proceedings case on social media platforms.

Huyton Crime (Liverpool standard) August 08, 2026 – A man has been charged following a road traffic collision in uk/local/huyton/">Huyton that claimed the lives of four young men late last month, Merseyside Police confirmed on Friday 7 August. James Diggle, 27, of Alundale Road in West Derby, faces four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the crash on East Prescot Road in the early hours of 24 July. He is scheduled to appear before Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 8 August.

The incident occurred just before 02:00 BST when a black Cupra Formentor left the road and struck a lamppost, according to initial police bulletins. Four occupants of the vehicle – Jack Diggle, 23, Benjamin Dooley, 23, Andrew Roberts, 24, and Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26 – were pronounced dead at the scene. A fifth man, aged 27, who was also a passenger, survived the collision and was taken to hospital, officers said at the time.

Who has been charged and what are the allegations?

Merseyside Police said on Friday night that James Diggle, 27, had been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving. The charges relate to the deaths of all four men who died in the Huyton collision. As reported by correspondents at the BBC and Sky News, the suspect is from West Derby and will face court proceedings beginning this weekend.

“As criminal proceedings are now active, we would ask that the public refrain from commenting on, or speculating about, the circumstances of this case online, as this could unintentionally prejudice the judicial process,” Merseyside Police said in a statement carried by multiple outlets including The Independent.

What do we know about the victims and their families’ tributes?

The families of the four men released tributes in the days following the crash, describing their loved ones as kind, devoted and deeply missed.

Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26, was described by his family as a “devoted and loving father” to his two children and a “loyal and generous” man. “Above all, Craig will be remembered for his kind heart, his devotion to his family, and the joy he brought to others,” his family said.

Jack Diggle, 23, a proud Everton supporter, was remembered by his mother as “kind, quiet, thoughtful and loving”.

“The loss of Jack has left a hole in our lives and in our hearts that can never be filled. We will carry him with us every day and miss him for the rest of our lives,”

she said.

Benjamin Dooley, 23, was described by his mother Kerry as “the kindest person” she knew with “a heart of gold”, adding that her life had been “ripped apart”. Andrew Roberts’ family said: “Our worlds are shattered, and we just keep waiting for you to come through the door saying this is all a dream, but it’s never going to come.”

How have police and authorities responded since the crash?

In the immediate aftermath on 24 July, Merseyside Police closed multiple roads in the area to allow for a collision investigation, including sections of Liverpool Road and East Prescot Road. Officers said the vehicle had been travelling from Liverpool towards Knowsley when it crashed.

Following the latest development, detectives reiterated their appeal for privacy for the bereaved families and warned against online speculation that could affect the judicial process. “Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones of the four men who tragically lost their lives and we ask that their privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time,” the force said, as reported by The Independent.

What next in the legal process?

James Diggle is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 8 August 2026, according to police and court reports from the BBC, Sky News and the Mirror. The charge of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving means the prosecution will allege that the accused assisted or encouraged the dangerous driving that led to the fatalities, rather than necessarily being the driver at the time of the crash.

Legal proceedings are now active, and any further updates are expected to come through official court listings or police statements as the case progresses through the magistrates’ court and potentially onward.

Background of the development

The fatal collision on East Prescot Road in Huyton occurred in the early hours of Friday 24 July 2026, when a black Cupra Formentor left the carriageway and struck a lamppost. Emergency services attended shortly after 02:00 BST, but four men in their twenties – Jack Diggle, Benjamin Dooley, Andrew Roberts and Craig Shackleton-Brady – were pronounced dead at the scene. A 27-year-old male passenger survived and was taken to hospital.

In the days that followed, Merseyside Police named the four deceased and said the car had been travelling from Liverpool towards Knowsley. The families issued tributes on 26 July, remembering the men as kind, devoted and deeply loved. On 7 August, police announced that James Diggle, 27, of West Derby, had been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving, with a first court appearance scheduled for 8 August.

Prediction: How this development can affect the local community and road-safety discourse

This charging decision is likely to intensify scrutiny of road safety on Huyton’s arterial routes, particularly East Prescot Road and surrounding links between Liverpool and Knowsley, where residents and local councillors have periodically raised concerns about speed and night-time driving. For the families and friends of the four men, the start of formal court proceedings may bring a measure of procedural clarity, though the emotional impact will persist as the case moves through the criminal justice system.

For the wider Merseyside community, the case could prompt renewed calls for targeted enforcement, improved street lighting and junction design, and continued public messaging on the risks of dangerous driving, especially in the early hours. As the matter proceeds through Liverpool Magistrates’ Court and potentially beyond, local media coverage is likely to remain focused on court updates, any further police statements, and community responses, shaping a broader conversation about road safety and accountability in the region.