A Mercedes driver has told a court how he saw a flash of red light prior to a collision that killed two popular teenagers.

David Bush was driving in the Norwich direction on the A143-A146 when his car collided with a red Vauxhall Corsa being driven by Georgia Puttock, 19.

The impact killed Kathryn Rivett, 18, a front seat passenger in the Corsa, and fellow passenger, Sam Jaggard, also 18, while Puttock also sustained serious injuries.

Puttock, of Broadwaters Road, Lowestoft, pleaded not guilty to two charges of causing death by careless driving at Norwich Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Bush, who was travelling with his wife, mother and their springer spaniel dog, said: “There was a red flash at 45 degrees to the car. I can’t remember anything after that.

“I looked round and realised that there had been an accident and saw the remains of the red car on the bank.”

The court heard driving conditions were good at the time of the crash at 6.30pm on July 17, with about an average amount of traffic on the road and no rain.

Jonathan Seely, prosecuting, said Puttock, who had just turned 18 at the time, had passed her test some months earlier and was travelling towards Lowestoft when the crash happened between Stockton and Gillingham.

He said she was not speeding and had

been driving a safe distance from the car in front.

He added the motorist driving the car in front of Puttock’s Corsa reported having to move “slightly” to the left to avoid a car coming in the opposite direction of the single lane carriageway, which was overtaking a cyclist.

Mr Seely said Puttock appeared to have overreacted and lost control, veering suddenly to the left and then to the right before crashing into Mr Bush’s Mercedes in the opposite lane.

He added: “The fact is that her inexperience does not provide her with a defence against these charges.”

The three in the Corsa were all friends, who had attended Kirkley High School – now East Point Academy.

Mr Jaggard excelled at golf, football and cricket and had represented Suffolk’s second team, while he was also a member of Rookery Park Golf Club in Carlton Colville and had most recently been playing for Southwold Golf Club. He also played cricket for Lowestoft and football for Kirkley and Pakefield.

The trial continues.