Yoram Hirshfeld, 81, and Noga Sella, 37, were killed in the crash (Picture: Facebook)

A ‘hit-and-run’ driver returned to his car to retrieve cocaine while a pregnant woman was still trapped underneath, a court has heard.

Nitesh Bissendary, 30, was under the influence of the Class A drug when his Alfa Romeo veered off the road hitting a family-of-five walking along the pavement, jurors were told.

Emergency services found 37-year-old Noga Sella’s dead body beneath the abandoned car in Ramsgate, Kent, on August 10.

Her father Yoram Hirshfeld, 81, was rushed to hospital but he went into cardiac arrest inside the ambulance and died.

Mrs Sella’s five-year-old daughter was left with a life-threatening head injury, while her husband Omer, 40, suffered a lacerated spleen. Their eight-year-old son escaped with minor injuries.

After the crash, Bissendary allegedly phoned his parents who came to pick him up in their red Mercedes before all three walked to the crime scene.

When police arrested Bissendary and his parents they discovered cocaine worth around £800 in the Mercedes.

Nitesh Bissendary, 30, from Manston, is on trial at Canterbury Crown Court (Picture: Facebook)

Yoram Hirshfeld, 81, died in an ambulance after going into cardiac arrest

Noga Sella, 37, was pregnant at the time of her death (Picture: Facebook)

Bissendary, from Manston, Kent, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving but he denies more serious charges of causing death by dangerous driving.

He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm, failing to provide a sample for analysis and possession with intent to supply cocaine, but he denied two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Nina Ellin said the collision was avoidable, adding: ‘The very fact the vehicle mounted the kerb showed the defendant was not controlling his vehicle as a competent and careful driver should do.

‘He did not take any avoiding action as his vehicle approached the family.’

Mrs Sella was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency services found her body under the car (Picture: PA)

Suriner Singh Gohlan, defending, said the crash happened because of a ‘momentary lapse’ in Bissendary’s concentration.

In an interview with police, he claimed he ‘didn’t intentionally drive into people – the car just veered to the left’ and said there was an issue with the steering wheel.

While in custody, Bissendary claimed he reached into the footwell to resolve an issue with a faulty clutch.

Ms Ellin said although a fault had been logged with the RAC, it had not contributed to the crash.

More: News

PC Joanne Fordyce noticed Bissendary and his mum and dad watching the aftermath unfold shortly after the crash.

When she asked him to give a specimen of breath, he refused and claimed he had lost his phone.

The prosecution says his judgement was impaired by his use of illegal drugs, particularly cocaine.

The trial continues.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Yoram Hirshfeld, 81, and his pregnant daughter Noga Sella, 37, were killed in the crash.