Porsche 911 driver Robert Beach admits killing friend Marc Putnam in Hessle crash

A PORSCHE driver has admitted killing his friend in a horror crash.

Robert Andrew Beach, 36, was driving his Porsche 911 Carrera when he crashed in Hessle, killing his passenger and friend Marc Putnam.

Hull Crown Court heard Beach, of Thoresby Street, west Hull, was driving his high-performance car along Priory Road in Hessle when he lost control of it after coming off a roundabout.

The Porsche ended up on the wrong side of the road, heading into the path of an oncoming Mercedes.

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Mr Putnam, 30, was in the passenger seat and took the full brunt of the crash.

Beach was alleged to have been driving at speeds of up to 50mph on the 30mph stretch after negotiating the roundabout.

He has pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving on January 26.

However, he has denied a charge of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs and is due to stand trial in January. It is expected to last up to three days.

The Crown Prosecution Service is pressing forward with the more serious charge of causing death by careless while unfit through drugs.

It carries a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine and up to 14 years imprisonment.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear has banned Beach from driving ahead of the trial because of his guilty plea to causing death by careless driving.

His barrister John Thackray said: "I cannot argue against the interim disqualification."

The charge carries an obligatory disqualification for at least two years.

Judge Mettyear said: "The case will be adjourned for trial before a jury on the count of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs.

"That trial will begin in January next year.

"You must be here then. Failure to attend will be, in itself, an offence and might mean the case will be tried in your absence.

"Between now and then, I will grant you bail but I impose an interim disqualification that will run from this moment."

The Porsche was travelling from the Hessle Road roundabout towards the A63 when it crashed into a black Mercedes, which then hit a Fiat Stilo.

The drivers of the Mercedes and the Fiat suffered minor injuries.

Police had to close the road for several hours after the accident at 9.05pm, only reopening it at 2am.

Beach was in hospital for more than a week after the crash.

A west Hull man, who did not wish to be named, had told the Mail he witnessed the aftermath of the accident.

He said: "All I could see was flashing lights and I wondered what had gone on.

"It looked really serious. It was shocking."