If there are no brakes, speed not going down enough to downshift so the car won't let you do it to prevent damage to the engine. That said, doesn't look like he was using engine braking the last few turns before the incident too.

BTW, anyone posted evidence of brake failure yet?

Oh them effing taxi driver style. Makes me wanna puke every time I get in a cab. Nowadays some cabbies moved to e-hailing and brought their habits with them.

I don't think that's conclusive though. The whole wheel came off with wheel hub, control arm and brake caliper attached. So that line could've been ripped off during that.