A care worker was allegedly speeding and over the drink-drive limit when involved in a fatal crash on the M2 which killed a stewardess.

Sensenal Amaglo appeared at Maidstone Crown Court today (November 18) following the death of Heidie Lee Locke on November 27, 2022.

Miss Locke, 58, was heading to Heathrow Airport from her home in Broadstairs when her Nissan Qashqai collided with Amaglo's Mercedes-Benz C200 AMG shortly after 6am.

The crash, which occurred between junction 6 at Faversham and junction 5 at Sittingbourne, led to the London-bound carriageway being closed for 10 hours as police carried out an investigation.

Miss Locke, who hailed from Cleveland, Ohio, died at the scene and Amaglo, 42, of Finn VC Estate in Bodmin, Cornwall, was arrested.

Amaglo, who works with adults on the autistic spectrum, has now pleaded not guilty to causing Miss Locke's death by dangerous driving, as well as causing death by careless driving when unfit through drink or drugs.

But the court heard his trial cannot go ahead until December 15 next year due to the current backlog in cases, with priority given to those defendants in custody or charged with sexual offences.

Amaglo, who was assisted throughout the plea and trial preparation hearing by an interpreter in the Ghanaian language of Twi, was however told he must return to court for further case management of legal proceedings on January 31.

A pre-trial review hearing will then be held on November 11.

Judge Julian Smith released Amaglo on bail with conditions of residence with his father in Bodmin and the mother of his child in Enfield, north London, the surrendering of his passport, and a ban on applying for overseas travel documents.

At the time of Miss Locke's death, a colleague paid tribute to her "lovely and caring" friend, who was a member of the United Airlines crew based out of Heathrow.

"She was a beautiful person whose life was cut way too short," said Teresa Delafons.

"She was always up for a laugh and kept us all entertained on our flights across to the USA.

"She was a lovely, caring person. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially all of us at United as well as Pan Am where she started her career."

According to an online obituary, Miss Locke was also a passionate photographer who documented her extensive travels, having worked for United Airlines for more than 30 years.

She had owned her home in Broadstairs since 2007.

A statement issued on behalf of United Airlines expressed the company’s sadness as well as its deepest condolences to her family.