Nigel Anthony Kirkham, 45, of Chestnut Avenue, Midway in Derbyshire, denies two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after being involved in a four-vehicle collision in the early hours of July 4 last year.

Prosecutor Eric Lamb told Preston Crown Court that Kirkham was behind the wheel of a white Mercedes van travelling northbound when he shunted the back of an articulated truck.

The impact caused his van to come to a stop straddling lanes one and two, where it was hit by two cars, he added.

John Marr, the driver of a Vauxhall Astra, suffered serious injuries, and the driver of the Escort Zoe West, 34, and her front seat passenger Victoria Pickering, 27, both from Gosport, died from the head injuries they sustained.

Mr Lamb said: "It was a gross lack of attention because the defendant had run smack into the back of a large, well-lit lorry on a straight stretch of motorway in dry conditions with very good visibility."

Kirkham later told police that he had little recollection of the smash.

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