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Road trip friends killed after crashing into driver asleep at rest stop

Two men have died after their car smashed into a trailer at a rest stop in South Australia.

Steven Kellner, 30, and his mate Dean, 20, were in a Volkswagen Golf travelling at 110km/h when it crashed into a trailer at a rest stop parked outside of Port Augusta on Monday about 4.25am.

Friends said the pair were on an overnight road trip. They had left their northern suburbs homes just after midnight and were heading for Whyalla.

Two men have died after their Volkswagen Golf smashed into a trailer at a rest stop parked outside of Port Augusta on Monday about 4.25am. Source: 7 News
Two men have died after their Volkswagen Golf smashed into a trailer at a rest stop parked outside of Port Augusta on Monday about 4.25am. Source: 7 News

But just 20km south of Port Augusta something went wrong.

SA Police Sergeant Mark Jarman said their car crossed the road into a parking bay and crashed into an unattended semi-trailer and a dolly.

“There was a gentleman who was parked and sleeping at the northern end of this parking area, he heard the crash and discovered the crash straight away,” Sgt Jarman said.

Steven Kellner (pictured), 30, was in the passenger seat while his mate Dean, 20, was driving. Source: 7 News
Steven Kellner (pictured), 30, was in the passenger seat while his mate Dean, 20, was driving. Source: 7 News

The sleeping man could have been killed too, police said.

The trailer had been left overnight for a transporting job on Monday and while police have spoken with its owner he hasn’t done anything wrong legally.

It’s likely fatigue or distraction played a role.

Sgt Jarman pointed out there were no tyre tracks at the crash scene indicating the car’s brakes weren’t used.