The motorcycle world is nearing the end of the long road towards justice over the shocking deaths of four riders in north Phoenix in March last year.

Called the worst motorcycle accident ever seen by Arizona safety officials, the trial is coming to a close for the driver charged with the death and destruction from that tragic day.

It was March 24^th 2010 when four people died and five were seriously injured when a large dump truck plowed into eight motorcycles stopped in traffic at a light in North Phoenix at approximately 1 p.m.. The eight motorcycles, carrying at least nine people, had pulled up behind a pickup and a small SUV near 27th Drive and Carefree Highway in North Phoenix.

At the time, witnesses told officials the dump truck ran over the motorcycles and collided with the SUV originally in front of the bikes at the light. Some of the motorcycles burst into flames while others, along with the riders, were dragged 50 to 75 yards according to reports. By the time the sanitation dump truck had finally stopped, three riders were trapped underneath.

"I have never seen such a horrific accident involving so many motorcycles," Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris told reporters at the time.

On Thursday the accused driver of the truck, Michael Jaksch took the stand in his defense. He is charged with 16 counts, including manslaughter, aggravated assault and endangerment. As well as those on the motorcycles at the time of the accident, he is also charged with injuring a Phoenix firefighter.

Court records show Jakscht had other driving violations in recent years.

Although apologizing for what happened, Jakscht blamed the crash on a mechanical failure with the truck he was driving.

"I'd say it was fine throughout the morning, then gradually it just pulled to the left," he told a crowded court room.

"When I put my foot on the brake, it made a clunk noise. That's when I looked in the rear view mirror to see when something snapped," Jakscht said.

He testified that the noise from his brakes made took his attention away from the road, away from the eight bikes that were ahead, leaving him little to no time to stop.

"I was in panic mode..I grabbed the steering wheel, I froze," he said.

At issue is the medical condition of Jakscht while behind the wheel of the dump truck at the time of the accident. Jakscht did pass a field sobriety test administered at the scene, but later toxicology results revealed methamphetamine in his system.

According to the accused, those results came from taking diet pills.

When asked if the pills he took had nothing to do with him freezing up, he replied, "No."

Closing arguments are scheduled for today with the case going to jury possibly as soon as lunchtime.