A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a string of offences after two people were killed during a crash on the M25, between St Albans and Watford.

Barancan Nurcin, of High Road in Tottenham, appeared at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday (March 26) where he pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, two counts of causing death while unlicensed and two counts of causing death while uninsured.

The collision took place between Junctions 22 for London Colney and 21A for St Albans at around 4am on Sunday, February 4.

Herts Advertiser: Four vehicles were involved in the crash.Four vehicles were involved in the crash. (Image: UKNIP)

Hertfordshire police officers spotted a white Citroen Dispatch on the M1 which had been reported as stolen, and a short time afterwards, the officers activated their vehicle’s lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the driver of the van.

This was quickly abandoned though, as the officers assessed the risk of continuing was too high. Shortly before 4am, a second pursuit took place on Breakspear Way, which was also abandoned.

A short time later, the van was then seen by a police officer travelling on the wrong side of the M25.

At approximately 4.08am, the van - driven by Nurcin - was involved in a collision with the three other vehicles, a silver DFSK 580 Glory, a silver Skoda Superb and a black Peugeot 5008.

Herts Advertiser: The incident has been referred to the IOPC for investigation.The incident has been referred to the IOPC for investigation. (Image: UKNIP)

39-year-old Zoe Hawes from Canvey Island, Essex, and a man from Enfield were sadly killed during the crash.

Nurcin will be sentenced on Friday, May 31.

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.”

The circumstances behind the crash are being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and a criminal investigation has been led by Essex Police.