Driver 'devastated' after fiery M1 truck crash

A truck driver charged with killing a man and his nephew in a fiery crash on the M1 is "devastated" according to his lawyer.

Samuel McLean, 30, faced Gosford Local Court today for the first time charged with dangerous driving occasioning the deaths of Jack Langford, 19 and his uncle Adam Langford at Calga.

In court documents, police alleged McLean "had taken his eyes off the roadway" before he careered into cars stopped in traffic last month.

It's understood he told officers he had taken his eyes off the road to reach for a drink.

The B double burst into flames after the impact at 5pm on July 31.

The ute carrying the two men was crushed beneath the truck and engulfed by flames.

"It was very upsetting because he hit that car and I knew whoever was in that car, that was going to be it," Patricia Dengate said at the time.

Those who witnessed the horrific crash managed to pull five other people to safety, with one undergoing surgery in hospital.

The MWP Transport Fleet was inspected in the days afterwards as police worked out what went wrong.

McLean did not say whether he would fight the charges during a court appearance which lasted just seconds.

Outside, his lawyer said he would wait until they had received the brief of evidence.

"He's devastated about it, just leave him alone please."