Details of the final moments of a young man’s life have emerged at the trial of a driver accused of causing his death in a horror crash.

It has been alleged that Adrian Stroud was racing with William Cliff along the Old Thanet Way in Herne Bay when he struck another car, throwing him from his VW Golf, which burst into flames.

Mr Stroud, who a court heard was likely not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene in April last year.

Canterbury Crown Court was told the 23-year-old was driving at almost 80mph along the stretch between Greenhill roundabout and Eddington Way, with Cliff following behind at more than 55mph.

The two were said to be “egging each other on” when Mr Stroud smashed into a Range Rover being driven by Matthew Garner, which was turning into Eddington Way.

Unable to stop in time, Cliff also crashed, the court was told.

The 21-year-old, of Doddington near Sittingbourne, denies causing Mr Stroud’s death and seriously injuring Mr Garner by driving dangerously.

The court heard how the Range Rover had started to turn into Eddington Way when it was struck at 12.30am on Sunday, April 19.

Prosecutor Stephen Earnshaw said the 1km stretch from the roundabout is a 40mph single road with a number of islands, which made it difficult for cars to overtake.

“This was a short but sustained piece of racing from these two young drivers,” he alleged.

“The suggestion is these two people were driving at some speed and the suggestion from one of the police officers was Mr Stroud was driving at nearly 80mph and at the very least Cliff was travelling at 55mph.

“There were two points of impact. Initially Mr Stroud was behind Cliff and in an expert’s opinion must have, at some point, overtaken him within that kilometre.

“Unfortunately there was a collision with the vehicle in which Mr Garner was in, as it was awaiting to turn into Eddington Way. He also suffered serious injuries in the accident.”

The jury heard how a police expert will claim that the VW Golf driven by Mr Stroud was travelling at “a minimum of between 73mph to 79mph” when it struck the Range Rover.

Mr Earnshaw said the Range Rover was partially into the eastbound carriageway and about to turn into Eddington Way when it was hit.

“Had the VW been travelling within the speed limit the Range Rover would have been able to complete the manoeuvre safely,” he added.

The prosecutor said that Cliff’s car must have been travelling “in excess” of 55mph and could have stopped before the crash had it been within the speed limit.

Mr Earnshaw claimed the drivers were “egging each other on” and Cliff later claimed he had put the car “into cruise control” thinking the speed limit was 60mph.

He said that the VW came up behind him “goading him on” just before the collision.

The prosecutor added: “Cliff and Mr Stroud were engaged in egging each other on, driving competitively, at excess speed and dangerously.”

The prosecutor said the jury would hear from a taxi driver taking people home when the Corsa and VW passed his vehicle in the opposite direction.

He later told police that the two vehicles “shook” his people carrier as they passed and had been driving at speed.

Another motorist estimated their speed at 60mph plus and said they were “very close together and thought they may have been racing,” he claimed.

Cliff was arrested as he received treatment for his injuries in the back of an ambulance at the scene, the jury heard.

The trial continues.