Man is being charged after allegedly killing his two best friends who lay down in front of his car in a desperate attempt to avoid ‘driving home drunk’
- Nathan Bernhard, 27, charged with dangerous driving
- Reportedly over the limit when he ran over his two mates
- They had been lying in the road trying to stop him from driving
A man is accused of hitting his two best friends while they were allegedly drunk after lying down on the road to stop him from getting behind the wheel.
Nathan Bernhard, 27, was in court on Thursday on charges of serious traffic offenses after allegedly hitting Bobby Kelsall, 36, and Stephen Lippis, 41 in a cul-de-sac in North Nowra on the NSW south coast on Wednesday night.
Police will allege in court that the three men had been drinking together leading up to the first State of Origin game that night when Bernhard decided he wanted to drive home, which was only a 15-minute walk away.
Nathan Bernhard (pictured) has been charged with dangerous traffic violations after allegedly running over two friends while drunk
Bobby Kelsall (pictured, left), 36, and Stephen Lippis (pictured, right), 41, both died after being run over by their friend
The police will further claim that the two friends tried to stop him by lying down on the road around 7pm.
But Bernhard is said to have flipped his car at the end of Condie Crescent and ran over the two men.
He allegedly told the police that he had not seen them.
Bystanders administered first aid until NSW paramedics arrived, but both men died at the scene.
Police claim that Bernhard underwent a breath test at the scene and returned a positive result.
He was arrested and taken to Nowra police station where he underwent a breath test before being taken to hospital for mandatory tests.
A neighbor of Mr Lippis and Mr Kelsall, who wished to remain anonymous, wept as she remembered the two ‘great friends’.
Bernhard was taken to hospital to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing (scene pictured)
Bystanders gave first air until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived but both men died at the scene (scene pictured)
“All three of them were buddies,” she told the Daily telegram.
“This has been such a tragic, terrible incident. I’m still in shock.’
Bernard was charged with dangerous driving resulting in death, negligent driving resulting in death, and driving under the influence of alcohol in the mid range.
He was granted bail on the condition that he does not drive a car or attempt to contact prosecution witnesses and will appear in court again on August 9.