Teen admits he was behind the wheel of stolen car which killed William Taylor

A teenager has admitted he was behind the wheel of a stolen car which killed Ashburton man William Taylor in a horror hit-run.

A teenager has admitted he was behind the wheel of a stolen car which killed William Taylor.

Mr Taylor, 28, from Ashburton, was killed when a stolen Jeep Cherokee travelling at high speed and erratically ploughed into his vehicle at an intersection in Burwood in July.

The Jeep then crashed into a tree before its six occupants fled on foot.

Mr Taylor, who was driving to soccer training, died at the scene.

On Thursday, a 17-year-old boy faced a children’s court where he pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, failing to stop and render assistance, conduct endangering life, unlicensed driving and car and petrol theft.

A teen has pleaded guilty over the fatal crash which killed William Taylor.

“Guilty,” the boy, who cannot be identified due to his age, said when asked for his plea.

The boy was supported in court by his family including his mother.

Mr Taylor’s family were not present.

The court previously heard the Jeep was travelling at 120km/h when it struck Mr Taylor’s Toyota Corolla as he turned on to Highbury Rd on the evening of July 2.

Two alleged passengers from the Jeep, both girls, were arrested on the night, with one of them identifying the boy as the driver.

Mr Taylor was killed when a stolen, speeding Jeep Cherokee ploughed into his vehicle in Burwood in July. Picture: Nine News

The boy was arrested at his family home the following night, before he was bailed later that week.

He was arrested and remanded in custody after he breached his court-ordered curfew before he was bailed a second time.

The court previously heard police had identified other alleged offenders but no arrests had been made.

The boy, who remains on bail, will face a pre-sentence hearing at the County Court next year.