A MOTORIST who drove into the back of a stationary car leading to a serious accident on a dual carriageway may have briefly failed to pay attention, a court heard.

Craig Harding is charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, arising from the accident on the A19 near Hutton Henry, in County Durham, at about 10.30am, on Sunday, March 15.

A Ford Ka, immediately ahead of the defendant’s Volkswagen Polo on the northbound carriageway, was said to have come to a halt, due to an earlier accident.

The Ka was thrown over following impact with the Polo and the 59-year-old female motorist was left unconscious.

Following initial attempts at treatment by paramedics at the scene, the victim was airlifted to hospital suffering what emerged to be serious long-term injuries.

Mr Harding appeared at Durham Crown Court for a plea hearing in the case, today (Monday December 21), when his barrister, Bob Spragg, said both sides’ positions may not be, “far apart”, following receipt of a defence road accident expert’s report.

Mr Spragg said the report indicated there may have been a momentary lapse in attention on the defendant’s part, which he said may point to a more preferable allegation of driving without due care and attention, rather than the existing dangerous driving charge.

The case was adjourned, with the agreement of Judge Christopher Prince, to allow further discussion between defence and prosecution experts, to see if they can reach, “a meeting of minds”.

Although a provisional trial date has already been set, to start on March 29, Judge Prince agreed to adjourn for another hearing in the near future, to await the outcome of the experts’ discussions.

The 44-year-old defendant, of Outram Street, Houghton-le-Spring, was bailed to return to court for the re-arranged plea hearing, on Friday January 29.