A Blackburn man has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

Reece Lawrence Fowler, 32, entered the guilty plea at Preston Crown Court today (June 18).

The offence happened in the early hours of February 3, 2023, and resulted in the death of Martyn Smith, a man in his 50s from Burnley.

Emergency services were called just after 5.30am to the A59 Myerscough Smithy Road, close to BAE, following reports of a crash between a Ford Focus and a Citroen Dispatch.

Martyn, who was driving the Ford, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police statement at the time said:  "We were called around 5.35am to the A59 Myerscough Smithy Road, close to BAE Samlesbury, after a report of a two-vehicle collision between a Ford Focus car and a Citroen Dispatch van.

"Emergency services attended with a man in his 50s from Burnley, the driver of the Ford, found unresponsive. He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

"The driver of the van, a man in his 30s from Blackburn, suffered minor injuries."

Sgt Daniel Gunn, of Lancashire Police’s serious collision investigation unit, added: “These are very sad and tragic circumstances and our thoughts are with his family.

Fowler, of Walden Road, Blackburn, will be sentenced at the same court on August 27.

He was granted unconditional bail until that date.