Truck driver who ploughed through busy Sydney intersection claims his brakes failed him

A truck driver who crashed into several cars in Dee Why two years ago told police in an interview he was braking but “the speed didn’t go down”.

Sarmad Nisan, 41, is facing trial in the District Court charged with dangerous driving over the horror crash that left six people injured and almost killed two police officers.

He was driving a near-full 22-tonne truck on Warringah Road in October 2014, when he told police through an interpreter days later that his brakes were faulty.

He claims he also tried his hand brake, and when that didn’t happen, he tried to turn left.

The crash was captured on dashboard camera.

“I knew that if I leave the truck going straight there, it’ll go over everybody there and it’ll be a huge disaster,” his interpreter said.

The Crown prosecutor alleges Mr Nisan ignored the 20km/h speed limit on the steep descent, and hit 65km/h immediately before the busy intersection.

The trial is expected to conclude next week.