A TEENAGER has denied causing the death of another motorist by dangerous driving.

Katie Georgia Foster put in her plea to the charge during a short appearance at Durham Crown Court.

The defendant, then aged 18, was at the wheel of a red Volkswagen Polo which was involved in a collision with a silver Peugeot 206 travelling in the opposite direction on the A688 bypass, at West Auckland, on the night of Monday March 21, last year.

As a result of the collision the Peugeot was said to have overturned, resulting in the death of driver Lee Cain.

The 36-year-old, from West Cornforth, County Durham, worked with his father and younger brother at the family’s tyre fitting business in nearby Spennymoor.

Miss Foster, who was treated in hospital for neck and back injuries after the accident, was among four people travelling in the Polo.

Her three passengers were said to have escaped unhurt from the collision.

In the wake of police inquiries into the accident she was charged with causing the death of Mr Cain by dangerous driving.

The case was recently sent to the crown court following a recent hearing before a District Judge at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court.

The now 19-year-old defendant, of Carisbrooke Crescent, Etherley Dene, in Bishop Auckland, pleaded not guilty when she appeared at the crown court.

Judge Christopher Prince asked prosecuting counsel Mark Giuliani if that was to be the only count on the indictment.

“Does the Crown seek to add a second count as an alternative to put before the jury at trial?”

Mr Giuliani said the alternative, of causing death by careless driving, would be duly considered by the Crown.

The court heard that a report has been drawn up by a road accident expert hired by the prosecution, which would be available to the trial.

James Luke, representing Miss Foster, told the court: “We intend to instruct our own expert in this case and we would hope that person could meet the Crown’s expert to iron out any issues to help reduce the length of the trial.”

Judge Prince asked if the two experts could produce a joint report to be made available for the court a week before the scheduled trial.

He adjourned the case and bailed Miss Foster to return for the start of the trial, on December 4.

But if the prosecution adds an alternative count she will be notified of the earlier date.