31 July 2025

Passenger handed jail sentence after fleeing scene of crash that killed teen

| By Albert McKnight
Police at the scene of the accident on Adelaide Avenue on 17 April 2024

Police at the scene of the car crash on Adelaide Avenue on 17 April 2024. Photo: ACT Policing.

A passenger who crawled out of a car crash that killed a teenage boy has been handed a jail sentence for driving the stolen vehicle earlier at dangerous speeds across Canberra.

Jack Dennis Summerrell-Jenkins was one of the passengers in the stolen Toyota Camry when it was being driven by a different person on Adelaide Avenue in Yarralumla on 17 April 2024.

The driver lost control and crashed, with the car ending up on its roof in the middle of the road.

One of the passengers, a 15-year-old boy, was ejected from the car during the crash and was found nearby with critical injuries when emergency services arrived at the scene. He later died in hospital.

Summerrell-Jenkins and the alleged driver managed to crawl out of the wreckage before they were picked up by others in a different stolen vehicle, and they all fled the scene.

The alleged driver, then a 15-year-old boy who legally cannot be named due to his age, has been charged with manslaughter and remains before the courts.

READ ALSO ‘You look like a robber’, Old Canberra Inn staff told balaclava-clad man before he allegedly stole $20k at knife-point

Summerrell-Jenkins, now aged 21, pleaded guilty to five charges before he was sentenced in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (30 July).

These included driving without consent, dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent by joint commission and riding in a vehicle without consent.

The court heard he was already on an intensive corrections order (ICO), which is a community-based sentence, over unrelated offending when he was seen driving the stolen Toyota Camry on 13 April 2024.

He was recorded driving the car at 140 km/h in a 60 km/h road work zone, 167 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, as well as 130 km/h in a residential area. He also refused to stop for police at least twice.

Summerrell-Jenkins was seen in the Camry again on 15 April, and also on 17 April when it crashed.

The father-of-two has remained in custody since he was arrested last August, partly because his ICO was cancelled.

His mother told the court he had a hard upbringing and had shown remorse about his recent offences.

“He just can’t believe what happened and [he said] if he could turn back time, he would,” his mother said.

“He just has so much guilt and regret.”

READ ALSO WATCH: police chase stolen car from Sydney to Canberra

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said Summerrell-Jenkins reported he had been using alcohol and meth on a daily basis at the time of his recent driving offences.

She said his driving “posed a very great risk to the community” and noted how his behaviour in custody had been very poor, including as he had contraband in his cell and consumed “an illicit home brew”.

The chief magistrate said he had mental and physical health challenges and had endured a difficult childhood. She also said while he wanted to address his substance abuse, he had not been particularly proactive in doing so.

Summerrell-Jenkins was convicted and sentenced to a total of two years and four months’ jail, with a 13-month non-parole period.

As this was backdated to account for time served, he will be eligible to be released from November 2025.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:

Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
MensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.

Free Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? We package the most-read Canberra stories and send them to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.
Loading
By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Region Canberra stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.