Minibus driver admits causing death of trainee nurse Bethany Jones in M62 hen party crash

Minibus driver James Johnson has pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of Bethany Jones. Pictures: Ross Parry Agency

A MINIBUS DRIVER has admitted causing the death of an 18-year-old trainee nurse who lost her life in a horror crash on the M62 in West Yorkshire, en route to a hen party.

James Johnson pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of Bethany Jones, after the minibus he was driving - which was carrying the hen party - crashed near Pontefract in April 2013.

The party was travelling from South Elmsall for the night out in Liverpool last year.

Twenty other women on board the minibus were injured, eight of them seriously. Bride-to-be Stephanie Firth, 24, was among the injured.

Appearing before Leeds Crown Court this morning, Johnson spoke only to confirm his name and enter his plea.

Judge Peter Collier, Recorder of Leeds, told Johnson he would be sentenced in October and that his bail was no indication of the sentence he would receive.

Kevin Ollerhead, who was driving a Farmfoods lorry with which the hen party’s minibus collided, has denied causing death by dangerous driving and will stand trial next month.