A DRIVER has admitted causing death by dangerous driving following a crash which killed his young passenger.

Pawel Szumlanski indicated a guilty plea when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday after he crashed into an HGV at Pinvin, near Pershore, killing his passenger Kamil Jerzy Lasocha.

The 36-year-old was behind the wheel of a Mercedes Sprinter van when he was involved in the fatal collision on the A44 Pinvin, heading in the direction of Evesham, on Sunday, September 6 last year.

We previously reported how the crash happened at around 9.50pm when the blue Mercedes Sprinter mini bus struck an articulated lorry. The bus had three occupants in it at the time and was travelling west on the A44 about half a mile west of the crossroads, hitting the lorry which was travelling east.

There was significant damage to both vehicles and one of the passengers, aged in his 20s, died of his injuries.

Szumlanski of Chase Road, Lindford, Bordon, Hampshire also suffered serious injuries which required hospital treatment.

The driver of the lorry and the second passenger in the mini bus were taken to hospital for lesser injuries. At the time, West Mercia Police launched an appeal for witnesses to the fatal crash. At court Aleigha Adams appeared for the prosecution while the defendant was represented by Chris Hilton. Szumlanski communicated his plea through a Polish interpreter. He was asked by the clerk if he understood the charge against him, replying ‘yes’. The clerk told him: “This has to go to crown court to be dealt with.”

Mr Hilton said: “I have completed the transfer form which I will hand in now. I can give an indication by Mr Szumlanski that his plea is guilty.” The defendant could be seen nodding in the dock.

“In light of that indication, I would invite the court to direct the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report to assist the crown court on the next occasion” said Mr Hilton.

Magistrates authorised the preparation of the report and the chairman and granted the defendant unconditional bail.

The case was adjourned for a date yet to be fixed at Worcester Crown Court when the plea and trial preparation hearing will take place. Szumlanski was told he would be notified of that date in due course. An interim driving disqualification was imposed in the meantime.