Death cars driving at about 35mph

Two 15-year-old girls were not driving erratically or at speed when the cars they were in crashed killing a passenger, a Cumbria court has heard.

Passenger Kimberly Bouch, 17, died hours after the crash on 30 December 2004 at Kirkbride Airfield near Wigton.

Four people are accused of manslaughter including passengers Calum Hill, 18, of Arkleby and Philip Watson, 21, of Moor House Farm. Both deny the charges.

The two drivers, now 16, also denied the charge at Carlisle Crown Court.

Never recovered

Friend John Mattinson, who was at the airfield on the night of the crash, told the court about events leading up to the accident.

He said the two girls, driving a Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio, owned by Mr Hill and Mr Watson, set off from opposite ends of the runway at the unlit airfield before colliding.

He said he was travelling in a car behind one of the vehicles which was doing no more than 35 or 40 miles an hour and was not being driven "erratically".

Ms Bouch, of Wigton, who was a passenger in the Ford Fiesta, suffered serious head injuries from which she never recovered.

The trial continues.