Man admits to causing death near St Albans after M25 pursuit

Hertfordshire Police said a pursuit was stood down prior to the collision

A man who crashed after driving the wrong way down the M25 following a police pursuit has admitted to causing death by dangerous driving.

Barancan Nurcin, 22, of High Road in Tottenham, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday.

In February a man and a woman died after a white Citroen Dispatch, driven by Nurcin, crashed into three other vehicles on the M25 in Hertfordshire.

Before the crash the van had been pursued by Hertfordshire police.

Officers said the pursuit had been stood down after they assessed the risk of continuing was too high.

The case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Zoe Hawes an Fahad Dek were both killed in the collision on the M25

The crash, which took place between junctions 22 and 21A, involved a silver DFSK 580 Glory, a silver Skoda Superb, a black Peugeot 5008 and a white Citroen Dispatch van.

At the time of the crash the van had been spotted driving the wrong way down the M25.

Zoe Hawes, from Canvey Island in Essex, was travelling in the DFSK to a holiday for her 40th birthday when she died.

Fahad Dek, 23, from Enfield, had been travelling in the van with Nurcin and was also killed in the crash.

Four others were seriously injured in the collision and he admitted four charges of causing injury by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to causing the deaths while driving without a licence and insurance.

Nurcin will be sentenced on 31 May.