Charges laid over fatal tanker crash

The truckie at the centre of a fiery fatal crash on Sydney's northern beaches last year has been charged with dangerous driving.

Two people were killed and five injured in October when the Cootes Transport fuel tanker allegedly lost control on Mona Vale Road and hit four oncoming vehicles including a Subaru.

The tanker exploded, sending towering flames and billowing black smoke into the air.

The man behind the wheel of the Subaru, a 73-year-old from Turramurra, and his passenger, a 71-year-old man from Western Australia, both died at the scene.

Police from the Metropolitan Crash Investigation Unit on Tuesday charged the truck driver, a 47-year-old Wagga Wagga man, with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.

He has also been charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning death, disobey trucks and buses low gear sign, and failing to give particulars to police.

The man is due to appear before Manly Local Court on May 28.

The October crash brought Cootes under intense and sustained scrutiny.

Its fleet underwent mandatory vehicle inspections and, last week, Roads Minister Duncan Gay said the company had 14 days to convince the government not to suspend or ban its trucks from NSW roads.