A MAN accused of causing the deaths of two young women on the A64 was said to have been travelling at up to 140mph in the fog and rain, a jury has heard.

York Crown Court was told yesterday how the girlfriend of Taiwanese national, Tien Cheng, 28, asked him to slow down as he drove at speeds described as “grossly excessive”, in the early hours of November 28 last year.

Jenny Wang, 26, was a front-seat passenger in the high-powered Mercedes CLS, when it hit the central reservation, travelling towards York, coming to rest in the centre of the carriageway.

Rear passengers Jingning Wang, 20, from York and Quan Qin, 21, died when they got out of the car and were struck by a passing red Mazda.

Cheng, of Redcliffe Parade West in Bristol, has admitted dangerous driving but denies causing the deaths of both women through dangerous driving.

The Mazda driver, Kevin McGregor, 40, of Gladstone Street, Acomb, York, also stands trial. He admitted hitting the women, but denies causing their deaths through careless or inconsiderate driving.

Miss Wang told yesterday how the four friends had left Leeds at around 2am after a night out and were near Tadcaster travelling towards York when she became concerned at her boyfriend’s driving.

She said: “It was foggy and it was raining and the road was a bit slippery. I reminded the driver to drive carefully and slow down a bit.

“I felt the car shaking and I felt it was slightly out of control. Then we hit the central reservation. After the car hit the central reservation it stopped in the middle of the road.”

The opening day of the trial also heard written statements from a woman who was overtaken by Mr Cheng’s car shortly before the crash.

She described the weather as “horrible” and said she became aware of two full headlight beams behind her.

She said: “Mr Cheng’s car overtook me and I can only describe it as flying.

“I could not believe it was driving so fast in such road conditions.”

Tim Capstick, for the prosecution, told the jury yesterday that over the coming week they would hear from many witnesses, including one who admitted driving at 100mph himself when he was overtaken by Mr Cheng, who he estimated to be driving at between 120 and 140mph.

The trial continues.