A black Cupra slammed into a lamppost on Liverpool Road shortly before 2am on Friday, killing four young men instantly and leaving a fifth fighting for his life. The impact was so severe that all four occupants, all in their twenties, were pronounced dead at the scene. A 27-year-old passenger survived and was taken to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Among the dead was Ben Dooley, 23, a sports psychology student who, according to his sister Demi, “lit up every room he was in.” Ben loved football, padel and darts, was a dedicated gym-goer, and cherished holidays with family and festivals with friends. His mother Kerry issued a devastating tribute: “My son, my world, my best friend. It was me and you always. My life is ripped apart and I don’t know how I will do life without you. … You were the kindest person I knew with a heart of gold.”
“Ben Dooley, 23, and three others died when a car hit a lamppost in Huyton; a fifth man is in hospital.”
His sister Demi said: “Ben my little brother, my one and only sibling, the one who always gave me advice and looked out for me … my heart is broken. Feels like a terrible dream.”
The first victim to be identified was Craig Brady, 26, a father of two – Phoebe, 5, and Archie, 3 – with his partner Ellie Jones. His older sister Kelsey, 29, described him as “my best mate … a big man about 6ft 2 but he was just like a teddy bear. He really was the most loving person ever.” Craig came from a large family with seven siblings.
Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision. The families of both men have been left struggling to comprehend the tragedy, with Kelsey adding: “I don’t know life without him.”