A PENSIONER died after a soldier lost control of his car and crashed into a field causing a frightened horse to run on to a motorway, a court heard.

James Balmer, 71, lost his life when his car hit the startled animal as he travelled with his wife along the A1M southbound carriageway, near Durham City, on November 16 last year.

Yesterday, Teesside Crown Court was told that Mark Coates had taken one hand off the steering wheel to take a sip of a soft drink when he lost control, causing his Ford Mondeo car to career backwards down an embankment, crashing into fencing and allowing the horse to break free.

Mr Coates, a soldier, is accused of causing the death of Mr Balmer, of Whitehouse Drive, Stockton, Teesside, by dangerous driving. He denies the charge.

Caroline Goodwin, prosecuting, said the accident happened at about 9.15pm at the junction south of Durham where the A177 and the A68 bisects the motorway.

She said: "It is a tragic case with tragic consequences.

"The defendant's account is that he had been driving in the outside lane when he decided to take a drink.

"When he was putting the bottle back into the passenger footwell the car careered to the right and towards the central barrier.

"Having gone over towards the central reservation he said he reacted by pulling the steering wheel hard left. That is what caused it to go across the carriageway and down the embankment. It did not maintain a straight line, because of the action, it twisted and went down backwards.

"Having found himself in that position, having crashed into the field with the fencing down, that as a result of this defendant's positive action to take a drink whilst driving, a horse escaped on to the A1M and Mr Balmer, who was driving, unexpectedly found the horse in his way and he hit it."

Mr Balmer died two days later from his injuries. In police interviews Mr Coates, of Stirling Avenue, Jarrow, South Tyneside admitted he had been driving, had taken a drink and lost control.

There was no evidence of alcohol or drugs being taken by either driver.

The trial continues.