AN army officer accused of killing a builder in a 90mph smash told the court he was a "safe and careful driver".

Giving evidence at Salisbury Crown Court, Major Richard Scott claimed it was out of his character to be driving at excessive speeds.

He is accused of causing a head-on smash by veering into the wrong lane when travelling westbound in bad weather on the B390 near Shrewton at between 84 and 95mph.

After hitting the oncoming black BMW, driven by Gunner Craig Reed of the Royal Artillery, his car rebounded, smashing into a van carrying four builders and killing Gareth Hicks as he slept in the back seat.

Major Scott, 40, has no memory of the crash, which happened at around 7.15am on October 6, 2014, but said he would not have been breaking the speed limit to the extent alleged.

Prosecutor Charles Gabb asked if his dog, which was sitting in the front footwell, would have distracted him.

Major Scott said the dog, which died in the crash, was "exceptionally well behaved".

His defence barrister, Thomas Stern, argued that the other driver, Gunner Reed, had been the one who crossed the white line and was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash.

The driver of the van, Patrick Gilleece, was overtaken by the BMW shortly before the crash.

He then saw an "explosion of debris" from around the corner before moments later the Audi driven by Major Scott careered into his Ford Transit.

Witnesses said Gunner Reed was going above the 60mph speed limit while overtaking cars in the minutes before the crash.

But while giving evidence Gunner Reed told the court he was travelling at around 45mph and "feathering the brakes" as he went around the corner.

He testified seeing the glare of the headlights coming towards him before the impact.

The court heard how Major Scott of Green Lane, Shepperton, Surrey, served his country during tours Afghanistan and Iraq.

Commanding officers said the father-of-three was a man of "great integrity" and had an "exceptionally good moral compass".

He has 23 years of driving experience and a clean licence.

Mr Stern told the jury that Major Scott was not going at a "blistering speed" and there was a history of accidents on the B390 eastbound.

He added that Major Scott was only ten minutes from Warminster, his destination, and had no motive to be speeding.

The trial continues.