Lorry driver charged with causing deaths of two men on A1 appears at crown court

Mark Lacey and Alexander Sherif, from London, died in the collision involving a mini car and a lorry at Colsterworth, near Grantham, in the early hours of hours of Wednesday October 11.

Irina Ivanova Elenkova, 37, who it is alleged was driving the lorry, this morning appeared at Lincoln Crown Court by video-link from Peterborough Prison.

No pleas were entered and Elenkova spoke only to confirm her date of birth and nationality.

It is alleged Elenkova, of Taras Shevcenko, Plodiv, Bulgaria, was driving a Romanian lorry which left part of its trailer protruding in to the northbound carriageway of the A1.

Both of the dead men were travelling in a mini car which was being driven north on the A1.

Following the crash police arrested Elenkova and a Bulgarian man who was also in the lorry on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Kostadin Ivanov Tanev, 41, of the Trachea Complex, Plodiv, Bulgaria, this morning (Monday) also appeared at Lincoln Crown Court by a separate video-link from Lincoln Prison.

Tanev did not enter a plea and also spoke only to confirm his date of birth and nationality.

Judge John Pini QC adjourned both cases for a trial at Lincoln Crown Court beginning on March 19 next year. The trial is expected to last four days.

They were both remanded until a further hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on 12 January.