death of a long-time friend in a horrific road accident in May last year.

Selwyn Llewellyn Berkeley, 26, of Hillsdale Estate, Smiths, was not required to enter a plea on the charge of causing 25-year-old Ashanti Smith's death in a head-on collision on North Shore Road, Devonshire, on May 2.

Police have also charged him with causing actual bodily harm to two other passengers.

Electrician, carpenter and motorcross expert, Smith, was a passenger in a red Subaru car, driven by Berkeley, which collided with a Nissan van on the Saturday afternoon.

The 43-year-old woman driving the van suffered a broken leg and ribs. Her son, 8, suffered cuts to his face and a bruised lung while her daughter, 9, was unhurt.

Smith, a father to his own child and step-father to his wife's two children, was pronounced dead at the King Edward VII Memorial hospital later that same day.

Berkeley himself was hospitalised in the intensive care unit after the accident in a serious condition with injuries to his leg, foot, jaw and teeth.

He limped out of the court room after his brief hearing.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis bailed Berkeley for $1,000 to "reflect the seriousness of the matter'' with no like surety.

The case was adjourned to Plea Court on March 12.

COURTS CTS