A MAN has appeared in court charged with causing the death of Yeovil mother-of-two Trudi McHugh and seriously injuring her son and another passenger by dangerous driving following an horrific crash on the A303 Ilminster Bypass in 2015.

Ben Summerhayes, 26, of Lordings Road, Billingshurst, West Sussex appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil with Mrs McHugh’s family and friends watching on from the public gallery.

He was charged that on July 15, at Ilminster, he caused the death of Trudi Jeanette McHugh by driving a Suzuki Jimny vehicle dangerously on the A303.

He was also charged with two further offences of causing serious injury to Sharon Vera Calway and Harry McHugh by driving dangerously on the same date.

Walking with the aid of a stick and barely able to talk, the defendant was just able to acknowledge his name and address when prompted by the court clerk due to injuries he suffered during the incident.

He did not enter pleas to any of the three allegations and the magistrates said the case was so serious that Summerhayes must be sent straight to Taunton Crown Court to be dealt with.

Prosecutor Julyan Stephens said that the defendant was alleged to have crossed the double white lines in the middle of the road and collided with the car being driven by Mrs McHugh.

“She was sadly killed and two other passengers were seriously injured,” he said.

He also said there had been a delay in bringing the case to court due to the defendant’s mental and physical health condition since the crash.

The magistrates adjourned the case until July 20 when Summerhayes must appear before a pre trial hearing at Taunton.

In the meantime he was released on unconditional bail.