Young motorist denies causing best pal Jordan Dowson's death by dangerous driving on Brotton bypass

Back-seat passenger Jordan Dowson died in the collision on the A174 Brotton bypass, in east Cleveland, in February last year.

Joshua Butters, 20, is on trial at Teesside Crown Court where a jury heard his that driving before the accident was dangerous.

Prosecutor Christine Egerton said his Vauxhall Corsa went over the central lines and hit a Volkswagen Scirocco and an Audi A4.

His girlfriend in the front seat was injured as the black hatchback spun around, flipped over and landed off the road.

IN COURT: Joshua Butters pictured at Teesside Crown Court

As details of the tragedy were read out, people in the public gallery sobbed, and Mr Butters had his head in his hands.

Miss Egerton said the manoeuvre was illegal because of solid double white lines which prohibit drivers crossing carriageways.

Promising footballer Jordan, 19, from nearby Guisborough, died at the scene, the jury of seven women and ten men heard.

"In due course, the police investigated the scene and checked out all the cars involved to see if any mechanical defects could have caused this accident, whether the road conditions could have contributed to it, and things like that," Miss Egerton said.

"The defendant was interviewed and he said his steering wheel had locked, and that had caused him to be unable to avoid crossing over those solid double white lines.

"The police carried out many tests and made many examinations in this case, and you will hear all about that during the course of the evidence.

"They also checked out a data box which was fitted to the defendant's car for insurance purposes to see if that could help.

"At the end of the day, the prosecution case is that there were no defects at all with any of the cars that could have caused this incident.

"His explanation cannot be right, say the Crown, and as a result of that it must be the case that this defendant's driving - in driving in that way with the consequences that did occur - means that his driving was dangerous, and that it did cause the death of the deceased.

"Driving is dangerous if the way the driver drives falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver, and at that time it would be obvious to a competent and careful driver that diving in that way would be dangerous."

Mr Butters, of Atholl Grove, Redcar, denies a charge of causing death by dangerous driving and faces a three-day trial.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told the jury: "There is going to be emotion and sympathy, but you are going to have to be hard-hearted and concentrate on the evidence only."