A MAN has appeared in court accused of causing a fatal crash in County Durham.
Cameron Kitch, 21, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, more than 16 months after the fatal collision near West Auckland.
Kitch, of Oakley Green, West Auckland, was driving a Vauxhall Astra when he was in a head-on collision with an HGV, killing passenger Callum Geary.
Read more: Family pay tribute to man who died in crash near West Auckland
It happened on the A68 at Hummerbeck on Friday, August 14, 2020. Mr Geary died the following week, on August 23.
Kitch was given unconditional bail during a short hearing at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday.
His case was sent to Durham Crown Court, where he is due to appear on February 10.
Stephen Andrews, who was representing Kitch, indicated he was likely to plead not guilty.
Mr Geary, 22, was well-known in Bishop Auckland and worked in the building and construction industry.
Paying tribute to him at the time, his parents Daryl and Mandy, with his triplet brother Kieran and Morgan described him as having a "heart of gold".
In a statement at the time, they said: “Sadly, after fighting a brave battle our hero passed away in the early hours of Sunday, August 23.
“Callum was a strong lad due to his career in building and construction industry.
“He loved to party with his friends, and he was a very well-known young lad around the area of Bishop Auckland, therefore had a lot of friends.
“Callum had a heart of gold and would do anything to help anyone in need, however and whenever he could.“He will deeply be missed by many and loved forever by all. We would like to thank friends, family and the emergency services for their help and support through this horrible time.”
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