A 21-year-old Padthaway man has appeared in court for the first time charged over a crash that killed a Victorian couple in South Australia's south-east during November.
Key points:
- Police have said James Bryson's ute collided with a couple's car at Willalooka
- He was charged with two counts of death by dangerous driving
- Mr Bryson was taken to the Mount Gambier hospital with serious injuries after the collision
James Paul Bryson appeared in the Naracoorte Magistrates Court beside his parents for a brief adjournment this morning.
Mr Bryson has been charged with two counts of death by dangerous driving over the fatal crash at the intersection of the Riddoch Highway and Mcgrice Road, at Willalooka, on November 18.
Mr Bryson's charge sheet stated his crime was aggravated because his blood-alcohol concentration was above 0.08 per cent at the time of the crash.
Police said at the time that Mr Bryson's ute collided with a Ford driven by the couple — Dennis Frazer, 77, and Deborah Thomson, 65, from Warrnambool — who died at the scene.
Mr Bryson was taken to the Mount Gambier Hospital with serious injuries.
Two of Mr Frazer's sons attended the court for the hearing.
Mr Frazer and Ms Thomson were the 99th and 100th lives lost on South Australia's roads in 2023.
Mr Bryson did not comment as he left court with his parents and another supporter.
His case was adjourned to the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in May.