The speeding driver who killed Hannah, 12, as she walked to school

Ryan Williams, 21, was driving along the A560 in Morley when he attempted to overtake a lorry just as the carriageway narrowed from two lanes to one.

When he realised he was going to hit a traffic island and tried to correct the manoeuvre, the court was told, Williams lost control of his green Vauxhall Vectra and mounted the kerb, ploughing into Hannah Derrick as she walked to school.

Williams, of Ledbury Grove, Middleton, Leeds, has admitted causing death by careless driving but pleaded not guilty to the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

The driver of a red Audi, who also tried to overtake the same lorry before Williams, has previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Leeds Crown Court was told yesterday Williams was driving at "excess speed".

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said: "He dangerously tried to overtake a lorry, found the manoeuvre was impossible, lost control of his vehicle, went across the carriageway, mounted the pavement and struck Hannah.

"The Crown will say speed, excess speed, had a role to play in the offence."

Another motorist, van driver Michael Rollinson, said the red Audi overtook him before the crash on the morning of June 15 last year.

Mr Rollinson described seeing the Audi veering from right to left, before watching "a Vauxhall spin in the middle of the road, and plastics in the air".

The trial continues.