Hollywood star escapes as brake failure leads to smash

The Hollywood star Joaquin Phoenix was said to be unhurt today after his car overturned on a canyon road above Los Angeles' Sunset Strip and collided with another vehicle after his brakes failed.

Phoenix, the 31-year-old star of the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line, was driving near Laurel Canyon Boulevard at about 2.50pm local time yesterday when he realised his brakes were not working, said police spokesman Officer Jason Lee.

Phoenix lost control of his car, which overturned and hit another vehicle also heading eastbound, Lee said.

Both parties exchanged information and no police report was filed. It was unclear if there were any passengers in Phoenix's car.

His publicist, Susan Patricola, said in a statement that Phoenix was wearing his seat belt and walked away from the scene after being helped out of his vehicle by a passer-by.

Earlier this month, Phoenix won a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy for portraying country legend Cash.

Phoenix is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, which will be handed out on Sunday. Patricola told US Weekly magazine that he would be at the awards ceremony despite the car accident.