Frederick David Russell, who was arrested in Dublin in February after four years on the run, appeared at the High Court for an extradition hearing.

The 27-year-old was charged in 2001 over the fatal car accident on a highway in Washington state which killed three people and left three others seriously injured.

But with a trial looming, Russell went on the run.

Mr Justice Michael Peart Tuesday remanded him to Cloverhill Prison for a further seven days.

Russell appeared in the court for the brief hearing dressed in a suit and tie, his girlfriend Hazel McNaboe also attended along with several family members who have travelled from California.

Russell is due to appear again at the High Court next Tuesday, when it is hoped a date can be fixed for a full extradition hearing.

Counsel for Russell, Kathleen Leader, said a large volume of documents still had to be assessed before the hearing could go ahead.

The full extradition hearing is likely to be heard in the new year, but Mr Justice Peart told the court the matter should be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

Russell was charged in 2001 with causing death by dangerous driving following the three car pile-up on the Moscow-Pullman highway in Washington state but he disappeared before the case came to court.

Russell crossed the border to Canada before boarding a flight to London. He then spent several months on the run around western Europe, before eventually settling in Ireland in late 2001.

He was arrested four years later by gardai while working as a security guard at a city centre store.

It is understood the US Marshals' Service received a tip-off when he was living and working in the Greater Dublin area after his name was put on the 15 most wanted list.

If extradited, he could face charges of vehicular homicide, similar to death by dangerous driving in Ireland, in connection with the car accident.

Three college students died in the crash, Brandon Clements, 22, of Wapato, 21-year-old Stacey Morrow of Milton and Ryan Sorenson, 21, of Westwood.

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