A FORMER soldier accused of causing the deaths of three people out on a family walk appeared in court with a walking stick and his arm in a sling.

David Logan, 47, hobbled into court after being charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving after a crash in which a father and his two children died.

Mr Logan, appearing at South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court, also appeared to have grazing on the right side of his face.

He spoke only to confirm his name, address and nationality during the five-minute hearing and was remanded into custody.

The defendant, of Broughton Road in Dalton, is alleged to have caused the death of Joshua Flynn, 37, his son Coby-Jay, 15, and daughter Skylar, 12.

The family, along with their beloved dog Troy, were killed while out for a Father’s Day walk when they were hit by the Peugeot 206 on Abbey Road in Dalton about 2.30pm on Sunday.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said: “The circumstances are, this is a tragedy for the family involved.

“It is alleged the defendant has driven in a manner where he’s collided with three members of the public and a family pet as they were effectively minding their own business.

“The Crown’s position is that the defendant is responsible for the deaths.

“The defendant was breathalysed at the scene, investigations are on-going with that.

“This has, perhaps understandably, generated substantial feeling with the local community.`

“The defendant resides in Dalton. He does not have an alternative address.”

There was no application for bail by Andrew Gallagher, the defendant’s solicitor.

Christopher Harris, chairman of the bench, remanded Logan into custody.

He told Logan: “We have no alternative but to send this matter to the Crown Court at Preston on July 24 for a pre-trial hearing.”

In a statement, issued earlier by the Flynn family, they paid tribute to the ‘doting dad’ and his children.

The family said their world has been ‘turned upside down’ by the incident and had been left ‘heartbroken’