MOTORIST Barry Smith has admitted he drove dangerously minutes before an horrific crash which killed three people.

A court heard Smith, 21, of The Down, Trowbridge, had been chasing after a Toyota MR2 car before it collided with another vehicle and flipped into the air, killing the two young men inside.

Melksham friends Craig Dicker, 23, and Adam Lumley, 21, died in the crash on the A350 at West Ashton along with five-year-old Calne youngster Tamara-Jayne Sheppard who was in her family's Ford Escort car which had been travelling in the opposite direction.

Tamara-Jayne's seven-year-old brother Ben was seriously injured in the crash.

Witnesses said Smith and his passenger David May had a miraculous escape after their car passed through the carnage unscathed.

Smith pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when he appeared at North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court in Trowbridge last Thursday.

He admitted dangerously overtaking a tractor and trailer, and a car, two miles before the accident, and also that he had been driving too close to the MR2.

In a statement, Mr May said: "I can only describe his driving from the traffic lights up to the accident as ridiculous and dangerous.

"He could have killed us both."

Amanda Sawetz, prosecuting, said it was not alleged Smith had been racing the Toyota, but that he had been intent on chasing after it.

She said: "He is not charged with causing the deaths.

"The charge is primarily concerned with his driving up to the accident."

John Elliott, defending, said his client's driving had fallen below the standards of a reasonable driver but had not caused the accident.

He said it was not a case of persistent dangerous driving but two instances.

Magistrates adjourned the case until December 4 for reports to be prepared.

Smith was released on unconditional bail and given a temporary driving ban until that date.