A pensioner died in an “horrific” head-on smash caused by another motorist, a court has heard.

David Bennell, 82, is said to have been “without blame” for the two-vehicle crash near his Braithwaite home, on April 29 last year, which claimed his life.

At Carlisle Crown Court, a jury was told Calum Wilkinson, 25, admits causing Mr Bennell’s death by careless driving on the A66. He has gone on trial after pleading not guilty to the more serious allegation of doing so dangerously.

Richard Haworth, prosecuting, opened the case to jurors and spoke about Mr Bennell.

“He was in good health for his age of 82,” said Mr Haworth. “He was very active. He was still driving a motor car, his Toyota Avensis, and indeed he was still carrying out various works and duties in the Cumbria area where he lived.”

It was while making a five-minute westbound journey back to Braithwaite that the tragedy happened.

Mr Haworth said Wilkinson was travelling eastbound in a Volkswagen Bora.

A wagon’s windscreen-mounted camera captured Wilkinson pulling on to the A66 and the prosecutor alleged he “contravened a double white line” as he immediately overtook a car and bus.

Minutes later Wilkinson, of Eaigle Terrace, Main Road, Flimby, attempted another overtake.

“Put simply, he crossed on to the westbound carriageway into the path of Mr Bennell’s Toyota and there was a horrific head-on collision,” said Mr Haworth.

This, he continued, caused “extensive damage” to both vehicles and left the drivers injured.

Members of the public rushed to help. Mr Bennell had suffered multiple injuries. He was flown to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary but died on May 1.

One eyewitness, said Mr Haworth, commented that Mr Bennell “had no chance” of avoiding the Bora.

The prosecutor told jurors Mr Bennell was “without blame”, had been driving on the correct side of the road and was “well within the speed limit”.

Mr Haworth said of Wilkinson: “The Crown says that the defendant caused the collision by performing an unsound manoeuvre into the face of oncoming traffic despite there being clear signs or signage that it was unsafe to do so.”

The issue, he stressed, was whether that was dangerous.

“What is disputed by the defendant is the standard of driving,” said the prosecutor.

“He (Wilkinson) admits that it was careless. He takes issue that it was dangerous.”

The trial continues.