A DRIVER accused of causing the death of his passenger when he lost control of his car has appeared in court today, Friday, November 27.

Dominic Antonio Harding declined to enter a plea when he faced charges of causing the death of Robert Goodman on Mark Causeway by driving without due care and attention.

He was also accused of drink driving, with Taunton Magistrates' Court hearing that he had 54 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35mg.

Mr Goodman's family listened from the back of the courtroom as it was claimed the fatal crash happened after the car failed to negotiate a bend and left the road, ending up in a rhyne as Mr Harding drove from Highbridge towards Wedmore on May 13 this year.

Mr Harding managed to escape from the vehicle, but Mr Goodman died at the scene after becoming trapped inside.

The case was sent to Taunton Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on January 4.