A TAIWANESE man charged in connection with a double fatal crash on the A64 near Tadcaster last month has appeared before York Crown Court.

Tien Cheng, 28, of Redcliffe Parade West, Bristol, did not enter a plea at the brief preliminary hearing. He is charged with causing the death of 20-year-old Chinese student Wang Jiang Ning in the early hours of November 29. She was a student at the University of York.

A second woman, Quan Qin, aged 21, died after Cheng was charged. Both women were passengers in a Mercedes car that the prosecution allege Cheng was driving towards York. He faces additional charges of driving without a valid licence, and driving a car with a tyre with insufficient tread.

Cheng’s case was adjourned to a plea and case management hearing on March 8 at York Crown Court and a trial date was provisionally set for the same court on May 24. Cheng, who did not make a bail application, was remanded in custody.

The 39-year-old male driver of a Mazda police believe was also involved in the crash near Oxton Lane, Tadcaster, was arrested and released on police bail. North Yorkshire coroner Geoff Fell said it was likely an inquest into both deaths would open and adjourn next week.