THE motorist who triggered the Selby train crash told an insurance man he saw the faces of passengers on a GNER express as it hit his Land Rover.

Gary Hart, 37, was being interviewed by representatives of his car insurers with a solicitor present on March 3, three days after the disaster in which ten people died including nine on the express.

Jeffrey Anthony Stagg said that Hart became so distressed as he described the collision to him that he needed comforting.

Quoting Hart's words the witness told Leeds Crown Court: "I knew a train was coming. I was 20 feet away when it hit the Land Rover. I was standing to the back of the trailer."

Hart went on: "The train hit 20 seconds after the crash (of the Land Rover onto the railway line).

"I saw the people on the train. I saw their faces. I phoned the police again and told them the train had crashed through the Land Rover."

Hart, of Strubby, Lincolnshire denies causing the deaths of ten people by dangerous driving.

Earlier Hart had given to Mr Stagg his account of how his Land Rover and trailer landed up on the East Coast main line.

"I had one hand on the bottom of the wheel and was driving on auto-pilot," Hart told Mr Stagg.

"I heard a bang from somewhere in the back of the Land Rover. I put both hands on the wheel. Suddenly the Land Rover went across the side of the road. I hit the verge, I bumped along and then I lifted 45 degrees. I saw the trees, I was braced tight trying to keep in a straight line. I thought I would go into a ditch at the bottom of the embankment. It levelled off and then I thought I was in a field.

"Then it went black and quiet. I went straight down then there was dust everywhere and then it settled. The car (Sabanna) was at the drivers side, I thought phone, phone, phone. After looking for the phone under the hand-brake. I got out of the passenger seat. I dialled 999 immediately."

Updated: 16:01 Friday, November 30, 2001