A TEACHER was killed in a head-on crash after a driver overtook two cars on a dark winding road.

Christopher Hornsey drove his Peugeot 306 to overtake the vehicles but crashed into Jennifer Askew's car on the wrong side of the road as she drove towards him.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Mr Hornsey had tried to overtake the cars in front of him despite road markings warning drivers to exercise caution.

The accident happened on March 7, last year, on the C18A back road between Howden-le-Wear and Witton-le-Wear, in County Durham.

The prosecution alleged yesterday that the 20-year-old caused the death of the Staindrop Comprehensive school teacher by dangerous driving.

Her 16-year-old son was in the passenger seat at the time of the accident.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said the single carriageway road was dark and the weather was fine when the crash happened at about 7.15pm.

She said Mr Hornsey had been behind a Peugeot 206 and Citroen Saxo car, which were both travelling at about 45 miles per hour, when he decided to overtake them and crashed into Mrs Askew's Ford Fiesta which was on the correct side of the road and heading in the opposite direction.

The Peugeot 206, driven by an elderly man, was hit from behind and veered across the road before hitting a hedge.

Mrs Askew, 54, who had previously taught at Longfield School, Darlington, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, but died from her injuries in the early hours of the next day.

Mrs Egerton said: "He tried to overtake two cars on an undulating road in the dark and failed to take notice of the car coming in the opposite direction.

She said the fact that the collision occurred in the way it did proved that he undertook a dangerous manoeuvre.

"He knew the road, having lived in the area for many years, and had driven along it many times."

Mr Hornsey, of Holy House, Witton-le-Wear, denies the charge.

The trial continues