A truck driver accused of causing the death of four Sussex tourists in a road crash in Australia hit their station wagon at 50mph, a court heard.

Martyn Hebblethwaite, 22, of Slinfold, his brother Benjamin, 26, of Horsham, Peter Standing, 21, of Hove, and Tim Skipp, 23, of Horsham, were killed when Scott Pitkin's truck hit the estate car they were travelling in from behind.

Today at the Supreme Court in Townsville, Australia, Pitkin pleaded not guilty to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

The court heard the accident happened after midnight on May 25, 1999, along the Bruce Highway near Feluga, north of Tully.

Crown prosecutor Peter Smid said the crash happened near a set of mobile traffic lights installed for roadworks.

The jury was shown photographs and a video of the road leading up to the crash scene and of the two vehicles as they ended up near a cane field.

Pitkin's truck rested on its side while the Falcon was almost unrecognisable with its roof peeled forward.

The jury heard a taped police interview with Pitkin in which he said he did not see the Falcon, nor several signs warning of roadworks in the lead-up to the lights.

In interview Pitkin said: "I'm just going along and saw this red light and . . . backed off and then it turned to green and . . . didn't see any cars or anything like that."

Truck driver David Morgan, who was travelling several minutes behind Pitkin at the time of the smash, told the court he arrived to see Pitkin in shock.

Several members of the victims' families were present in court, as were supporters of Pitkin.

The trial continues tomorrow.