WHEN Gary Hart's Land Rover left the M62 and slid on to the East Coast Main Line on the morning of February 28, 2001, hundreds of lives were altered forever - the lives of passengers on the GNER express train, the drivers of the freight train, the villagers of Great Heck who opened their homes to the injured, and the emergency teams who worked tirelessly to save lives.

The past two-and-a-half years has been an emotional journey for all those involved, a journey which started when Hart set off from his home in Strubby, Lincolnshire, despite not having slept for 24 hours.

Approaching a road bridge on the M62, half-a-mile away from Great Heck, Hart's Land Rover and trailer slid off the road and down an embankment. It crashed through two fences and came to rest on the rail tracks.

The GNER express train travelling at nearly 125mph smashed into the Land Rover and derailed. It continued upright towards Great Heck before rashing into the oncoming freight train.

Ten men were killed, six of them from from North Yorkshire; and more than 70 people were injured.

In the aftermath of the crash, Prime Minister Tony Blair praised the Great Heck residents for their "extraordinary" efforts and promised a full inquiry into the tragedy.

Memorials took place across York and North Yorkshire, including a service at York Minster attended by Prince Charles.

Plans were also unveiled for a memorial garden alongside the field where carriages came to rest on the morning of the disaster.

In May 2001, Hart was charged with causing the deaths of ten people by dangerous driving.

During the ensuing two-week trial the jury heard that he had spent five hours on the telephone to his internet lover, Kristeen Panter, on the morning of the crash and had not slept for 24 hours.

Hart was found guilty and jailed for five years. He was later refused an appeal.

A campaign was quickly launched against tired drivers, encouraging motorists to take adequate rest and to clamp down on those who drive while sleepy.

A number of survivors and bereaved relatives made compensation claims against Hart, starting with Gian Spadone, of York, the first to launch a civil case on December 12, 2001.

One case was settled out of court, without an admission of liability.

But legal arguments are continuing into who is financially responsible for the rail crash.

Hart's insurers Fortis Insurance, Network Rail, formerly Railtrack, and the Highway Agency are due to argue the case in the High Court next month.

The first anniversary of the disaster was an emotional time as relatives and survivors gathered at Great Heck to mark the exact moment - 6.15am - when the two trains collided.

In July this year, 30 survivors, train crew members and Great Heck residents were commended for their brave actions, alongside police and fire officers at a special ceremony at York Racecourse.

Now that the state's official legal avenues have been explored, perhaps all those touched by the Selby rail disaster will be able to move on once more.

Updated: 12:42 Saturday, September 13, 2003