Truckie in deadly 2013 Sydney fuel tanker crash will stand trial

Truck driver Shane Day will stand trial over the fuel tanker crash which killed two people in Sydney’s north in 2013.

Mr Day has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and another of causing serious injury.

The charges stem from a deadly crash in Mona Vale in 2013, when a tanker carrying nearly 34,000 litres of fuel, driven by the Cootes Transport employee, careered into cars and burst into flames.

Two men, Peter Wern and Graham Holfreter, were killed and five other people were injured.

Mr Day did not make a comment outside court but his lawyer said it had been “extremely difficult” for him.

Defence for the 47-year-old argued Mr Day was unable to slow down because of the faulty and worn brakes on his B-double.

However, the crown said Mr Day would have known the dangerous nature of his cargo required “special caution and driving techniques”.

The court heard the dashcam of a nearby car showed Day driving too fast on a hill before the crash.

The accident led to a national safety audit, with Cootes fined more than $400,000.

The case will return to court for arraignment next week.