Lorry driver in court charged with causing death of nurse in crash
A TRUCK driver has appeared in court accused of causing the death of a well respected nurse in a horror crash near Cramlington.
Tanya Forrest, 51, was driving her Ford Ka along the A189 Spine Road on November 3, 2019, when it flipped on to its roof after colliding with a lorry.
Paramedics and the air ambulance were dispatched to the scene where Ms Forrest, from Bedlington, was pronounced dead.
A 75-year-old woman who was a front seat passenger in the car was cut free by firefighters before being taken to Cramlington Hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Now Kenneth Wilson has appeared before magistrates charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The 53-year-old, of Milton Road, Carcroft, Doncaster, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court.
No plea was entered, but Wilson’s solicitor indicated he would be denying the charges.
The case was adjourned until April 7, when Wilson will appear before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court. He was granted unconditional bail until then.
Following her death, Ms Forrest’s colleagues at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were left devastated.
At the time, Marion Dickson, executive director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, said: “Tanya was a very popular and well-respected nurse who will be greatly missed by her colleagues at our Northumbria hospital and across our trust who have been deeply shocked by her tragic death.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with her family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”