Man denies causing actress' death by danger driving

Katherine Howard, aged 32, died at the scene when her car was hit, head-on, by a 71-year-old driver who had swerved into her path, Reading Crown Court heard this week.
The tragedy which claimed the life of Mrs Howard, an acclaimed playright and actress who had performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, happened just before 4pm on February 26 last year on Priors Court Road, Hermitage.
Pensioner Michael Challis denies causing death by dangerous driving, claiming he was hit from behind by another car, causing him to veer into Mrs Howard's path.
At the opening of the trial on Monday, prosecutor Adrian Fleming showed jurors an animated reconstruction of the tragedy
in which Mr Challis' Suzuki Vitara car swerved into the oncoming lane and hit Mrs Howard's Nissan Micra.
This apparently caused both vehicles to career off the road, also resulting in Mr Challis’ vehicle being hit by a Mercedes driven by motorist and witness Paul Smith.
Mr Fleming said: "(Mr Smith) will describe to you the Suzuki turning to its right into the path of the Nissan immediately before the collision. He saw nothing which would have appeared to have caused this sudden movement.
"The Crown says that Michael Challis was driving the Suzuki and that driving one's vehicle onto the incorrect side of the road into the path of another vehicle is clearly not just dangerous but highly dangerous.”
He added: "Tragically, Michael Challis' dangerous driving that afternoon caused the death of an innocent road user, Katherine Howard."
However, Mr Fleming said Mr Challis will claim he was struck by the Mercedes just before the fatal crash.
The court heard that road conditions were good at the time of the collision and none of the drivers involved was thought to have been speeding.
Mr Challis, who used a crutch as he walked into the dock, was seriously injured in the collision and spent several months in hospital, jurors were told.
The case continues.