Man killed two people - including woman travelling for 40th birthday - in M25 crash UKNIP/HERTS POLICE
Barancan Nurcin, 22, was driving a Citroen Dispatch which crashed into three other vehicles killing Zoe Hawes (pictured) and Fahad Dek (Picture: UKNIP)

On the day she was died, mum Zoe Hawes was on her way to celebrate her 40th birthday.

But as she headed along the M25 for a holiday with her husband to mark her milestone birthday, her car was hit by a van heading in the wrong direction.

That van, a Citroen Dispatch, was being driven by Barancan Nurcin, 22, who, moments earlier, was invovled in a police chase.

His passenger, Fahad Dek, 23, also died in the crash between junctions 22 for St Albans and 25 for Cheshunt.

Nurcin has now admitted several counts relating to the fatal crash and will be sentenced at the end of May.

The family of a woman killed in a collision on the M25 on Sunday (4 February) have paid tribute to a ?wonderful mummy and nanna?. Zoe Hawes, from Canvey Island, was travelling to go on holiday to celebrate her 40th birthday when the incident occurred.
Zoe Hawes was described as ‘the heart of our blended family’ by her heartbroken relatives (Picture: @HertsPolice)

In a tribute, her heartbroken relatives said she was ‘the heart of our blended family’, adding in a statement: ‘She was a very much loved mum, step mum, sister, aunt and lovely young nanna. She was a friend to many.

‘She was very much looking to go on holiday to celebrate her 40th with her husband. Sadly a holiday and birthday she didn’t get to celebrate.

‘We are all trying to pull together as a family and are devastated to lose Zoe in this tragic way. 

‘We wouldn’t have changed her for the world and she leaves an enormous hole in our family that will never be filled.’

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into a horrific collision involving multiple vehicles on the M25 in Hertfordshire, leading to the closure of a 5-mile section of the motorway. The incident, which occurred between junctions 21A and 22 near Radlett and Colley Street, has left the region in turmoil, with emergency services and investigators swiftly responding to the scene. Early reports suggest that several vehicles were involved in the collision, resulting in at least one fatality. However, authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties. The impact of the crash was so severe that wreckage from the vehicles is strewn across all four lanes of the M25. As a result of the incident, the affected section of the M25 has been completely closed to traffic. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes to avoid disruptions and delays. In a statement from Herts Police, they confirmed the closure of the M25 between junctions 22 (London Colney) and 21A (North Orbital Road/St Albans) while emergency services addressed the serious road traffic collision. They urged motorists to avoid the area and expressed gratitude to the public for their patience. Updates on the situation will be provided as more information becomes available. The IOPC's involvement in the investigation is centred on the actions of the police leading up to the fatal road traffic collision. The incident is believed to have occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday, February 4th, when Hertfordshire Constabulary was reportedly in pursuit of a van. This pursuit culminated in the van being involved in a collision between Watford and St Albans. Notably, no police vehicles were directly involved in the collision, and the pursuit had been terminated before the crash occurred.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into a horrific collision involving multiple vehicles on the M25 (Picture: UKNIP)

Mr Dek was a passenger in the van.

Detective Inspector Mark Fraser 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 admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, four of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and additional charges of causing death while unlicensed and uninsured.

He will be sentenced on May 31.

The circumstances leading up to the collision 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 collision.

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

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