Huyton crash victims died of 'multiple injuries'

Handout A composite image of four smiling menHandout
From left: Jack Diggle; Benjamin Dooley; Andrew Roberts and Craig Shackleton Brady

WARNING: This story contains details some people may find distressing.

An inquest into the deaths of four young men who died when their car hit a lamp-post last month has heard that they died from multiple injuries.

Craig Shackleton-Brady, 26; Andrew Roberts, 24; and 23-year-olds Jack Diggle and Benjamin Dooley died when the Seat Cupra they were travelling in crashed on East Prescot Road in Huyton on 24 July.

An inquest at Bootle Town Hall today heard that the four men were identified by dental records, body markings and clothing they were seen wearing on CCTV before the collision.

The proceedings were suspended by Anita Bhardwaj, Senior Coroner for Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley, until criminal proceedings linked to the crash conclude.

A number of police vehicles close off  dual carriageway in Merseyside. The road has trees lined down the middle
The four men were killed in a crash after a car they were travelling in hit a lamp-post

Senior coroners' officer Liam Moss told the brief hearing that four of the five occupants of the car died in the single-vehicle crash, which happened at 01:54 BST on the eastbound carriageway.

The court was told Dooley, of Stockbridge Village, was a student and Shackleton-Brady, from Dovecot, was a warehouse operative.

Diggle, of West Derby, and Roberts, of Dovecot, were both unemployed, the court heard.

The surviving occupant, 27-year-old James Diggle of Alundale Road in Liverpool, has since been charged with four counts of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving.

He was remanded in custody after appearing at Liverpool Magistrates' Court earlier this month and is due to appear at the crown court in September.

None of the men's families were in court for the opening of the inquests but Bhardwaj said they were aware of today's proceedings.

She offered her condolences to the four families.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.