Selby crash driver appears before judge

Gary Hart (left) has been given conditional bail

The driver of a Land Rover which triggered the Selby rail disaster has appeared in crown court charged with causing the deaths of 10 people.

Gary Hart, a 36-year-old builder, from Strubby, Lincolnshire, appeared before York Crown Court in connection with the crash at Great Heck near Selby, North Yorkshire, which claimed the lives of six passengers and four staff.

Mr Hart was driving a Land Rover which left the M62, crashed down an embankment and ended up in the path of a Newcastle to London express train early on 28 February.

The express was derailed by the impact and collided with a freight train coming in the opposite direction.

Mr Hart appeared before Selby Magistrates last week charged with causing the deaths of 10 people by dangerous driving. The case was immediately committed to the crown court.

On Friday Mr Hart was granted conditional bail until 13 July, when he will appear at Leeds Crown Court. At that point he is expected to enter a plea.

The 10 people who died at Great Heck were Clive Vidgen, 39, and Alan Ensor, 44, Barry Needham, 40, Professor Steve Baldwin, 39 and Christopher Terry, 30, all from the York area, Robert Shakespeare, 43, from Beverley, East Yorkshire; John Weddle, 47, and Paul Taylor, 42, both from Newcastle, Raymond Robson, 43, from Whitley Bay and Stephen Dunn, from Selby.