Jake Frederick Stock, 19, jailed over horror Ki Ki crash that killed Poppy Crozier

An “inexperienced, immature” driver whose “reckless and dangerous” choices caused the death of a beloved friend, daughter and granddaughter was sentenced today.

An “inexperienced, immature” driver whose “reckless and dangerous” choices caused the death of a beloved friend, daughter and granddaughter will spend at least two years behind bars.

As his supporters cried quietly in the District Court gallery on Wednesday morning, killer driver Jake Frederick Stock stood emotionless as Judge Jane Schammer said she did not find good reason to suspend a term of imprisonment.

Stock, now the same age as his victim, pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving after he overtook two semi-trailers on the Dukes Highway in Ki Ki in May last year, before colliding head on with 19-year-old Poppy Crozier’s vehicle – pushing her into the path of one of the trucks.

“You saw oncoming headlights and started to speed up to try to get past the prime mover,” Judge Schammer said in sentencing.

“Tragically, as you started to come back onto the correct side of the road, the front driver’s side of your vehicle collided with the front driver’s side of the vehicle in the overtaking lane, propelling that vehicle into the path of (the truck).

Jake Frederick Stock was jailed after causing Poppy’s death by dangerous driving. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Asha and Charlie Crozier, the parents of Poppy Crozier, leave the District Court after Jake Frederick Stock was jailed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The parents of Jake Stock leave the District Court on Wednesday after the sentencing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

At the last hearing, members of Poppy’s devastated family – including her parents and boyfriend – read victim impact statements to the court, detailing the trauma they must now live with every time they drive past the crash site.

Through his counsel, Stock then apologised to them, and said the crash would haunt him forever.

“Poppy was a very much loved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, girlfriend and friend of many,” Judge Schammer said.

“She was heading home to the family property in Keith for the weekend after spending the week studying and working in the city.

“She was a vibrant young woman with her whole life ahead of her. It is simply impossible to describe or even understand the depth of grief suffered by her family and friends and the devastating impact her loss has caused to them, and the wider Keith community.

Poppy Crozier, 19, tragically lost her life after being in a road crash at Ki Ki. Picture: Instagram

The 19-year-old died after Stock tried to overtake a semi-trailer. Picture: Instagram

“Losing a child in these circumstances is a nightmare no parent should ever have to endure.”

Judge Schammer said Stock had no prior criminal offending and had good prospects for rehabilitation, but the consequences of his actions warranted a sentence of imprisonment.

She jailed him for three years, two months and eight days, before turning to the question of a suspended sentence or a sentence on home detention.

“Notwithstanding the favourable personal circumstances, I ultimately reached the conclusion that the circumstances of this offending are simply too serious for the court to order the term be served on home detention. You must serve the sentence imposed.”

She imposed a non parole period of two years, meaning Stock will be eligible for release in May 2026.

Stock, who was working as a farm hand at the time of the accident, had his license disqualified immediately after his arrest in June 2023, but will be further disqualified from driving for a total of 10 years following his release.

Poppy’s family were quietly emotional as the sentence was read and declined to comment outside court.

Originally published as Jake Frederick Stock, 19, jailed over horror Ki Ki crash that killed Poppy Crozier