A MAN has admitted causing the death of a Canvey mum after a tragic crash on the M25.

Zoe Hawes had been travelling with her husband Wayne to go on holiday to celebrate her 40th birthday when the crash occurred on Sunday, February 4, between junctions 22 and 21A.

A white van had crashed with three cars.

The 39-year-old mother-of-eight, and Fahad Dek, 23, from Enfield, both lost their lives following the fatal crash.

Fahad was a passenger in the van.

Barancan Nurcin, 22, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday where he admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death whilst unlicensed and two counts of causing death whilst uninsured.

Nurcin, of High Road, Tottenham, was driving a white Citroen Dispatch van which crashed with the silver DFSK 580 Glory, silver Skoda Superb and black Peugeot 5008.

After initially fighting for his life, Wayne Hawes is now in a stable condition.

Detective Inspector Mark Fraser, from Essex Police, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims’ families. They have been through an unimaginable ordeal and we continue to provide them with any support they require.

“Nurcin caused the loss of two lives on that day but he has broken many more lives by his actions. He can expect to spend a significant length of time behind bars.”

Nurcin will be sentenced on Friday, May 31.

The circumstances leading up to the crash are being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct as officers in a marked vehicle had been in pursuit of the van shortly before the crash.

The pursuit was quickly abandoned as the officers assessed that the risk of continuing was too high.

The criminal investigation has been led by Essex Police