A MAN at the wheel of a car involved in a fatal accident has denied causing death by dangerous driving.

Cameron Kitch was driving a Vauxhall Astra which collided head-on with a DAF lorry on the A68, at Hummerbeck, near West Auckland, on Friday August 14, 2020.

The car then struck a wall and came to rest in wooden fencing, at about 9pm.

Astra passenger, Callum Geary, 22, suffered serious injuries in the crash and died in hospital nine days later.

Mr Kitch, then aged 20, was also treated at hospital for injuries suffered in the collision.

The now 21-year-old, of West Auckland, was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

He appeared before magistrates last month, when the case was sent to Durham Crown Court.

Read more: Man accused of causing fatal crash on A68 in West Auckland

Appearing at a plea hearing at the crown court, he denied a charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

Asked by Judge James Adkin if the defendant had read the report of the police accident investigator, defence counsel Daniel Bramhall confirmed there has been a case conference.

Mr Bramhall said: “He says the wheels locked up, essentially.”

He added: “He just lost control of the vehicle.”

All parties agreed on a trial date to start at the court on Monday August 1, but with a further case management hearing on Friday May 6, when the points of agreement between the prosecution and defence driving experts can be put forward.

Adjourning, Judge Adkin told the defendant: “You have pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and the next stage is to have a trial before a jury.

“Before that, there is a further hearing, on May 6, which you must also attend.”

He bailed the defendant to an address in East Green, West Auckland.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054