Ireland Case No. 4306Dangerous driving causing death, failing to report a crash, driving without insurance · Co. Kildare · 18 Jul 2023
Jake Kelly jailed for 6½ years after friend Ross Rice killed in Celbridge crash
Jake Kelly, 22, of Ballyfermot, was sentenced to 6½ years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for dangerous driving causing the death of his friend Ross Rice, 22, after crashing a car at 162km/h into a stationary lorry on Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, on 18 July 2023 and walking away from the scene while Rice lay dead in the passenger seat.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced16 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatKelly crashed a car at speed into the back of an articulated lorry (irishtimes.com)
- whatHe walked away from the scene while his friend lay dead in the passenger seat (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe car was trapped underneath the lorry trailer after the crash (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe passenger side of the car was covered in hot tar that poured out of the lorry upon impact (irishtimes.com)
- whatEmergency responders were not aware there was a passenger in the car (irishtimes.com)
- whatRice's body was discovered a couple of hours after the crash (irishtimes.com)
- whatKelly told gardaí he was not sure if his friend had got out and thought he might be in the fields (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two friends were going hunting that night (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwo lurcher dogs were found in the boot of the car (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe speedometer was found stopped at 162km/h (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe speed limit was 60km/h at the time due to ongoing roadworks (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe crash occurred in July 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- causeRice died of blunt force head and chest injuries (irishtimes.com)
- causeRice's death was instantaneous (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Rice at Dublin Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare on 18 July 2023 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to failing to report a crash (irishtimes.com)
- chargeKelly pleaded guilty to driving without insurance (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly was on bail at the time for other offences which were later struck out (irishtimes.com)
- otherKelly had no driving licence (irishtimes.com)
- otherRice had an 11-month-old baby with his partner when he was killed (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Dec2025Man who left dead friend in crashed car jailed for more than six years
Sentencing report: Kelly pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to report a crash, and driving without insurance. Sentenced to 7½ years with the final year suspended, disqualified from driving for eight years, and ordered to complete a speed awareness programme.
victim, Ross Rice, 22, male, irish (judged from name)Ross Riceconvicted, Jake Kelly, 22, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jake Kelly