A COACH driver has pleaded guilty to two counts of death by dangerous driving following a crash on the M5 south near Halesowen.

Jasminder Dhesi’s coach was unroadworthy and disaster struck when it broke down near junction three where there was no hard shoulder and in fog on March 24 2012.

The stationary coach was hit by a lorry, killing its 65-year-old driver William Mapstone, from Somerset, and coach passenger Liaquat Ali, aged 35, from Smethwick.

Dhesi, aged 50, from Great Barr, entered his plea at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday).

He was released on bail and will be sentenced on February 12.

The smash happened in the early hours of Saturday March 24. Mr Ali died at the scene and Mr Mapstone died in hospital later that day. A further 41 people were injured.

Collision investigator Sergeant Chris Jones said Dhesi's coach was not roadworthy and he should not have been driving it.

"He had already broken down on two occasions before the collision happened and had managed to pull over onto the hard shoulder and get the vehicle moving again.

"Despite the fog and the unreliability of the coach he carried on with the journey, but came unstuck on the third breakdown.”