A driver accused of killing two motorcyclists in the early hours said he was rushing at the time because a friend of his called him saying he needed help.

The case against 41-year-old Karl Vella Petroni is underway, with two new witnesses who were in Mosta’s Triq iż-Żejfa on May 6th recounting how they were “stunned” to see Vella Petroni’s Smart car crash into a motorcycle with two men riding it, Faiza Muhammed and Ali Abbas.

Both died as a result of the crash.

The two witnesses – one a jogger, the other an Audi driver who was behind the victims’ motorcycle, confirmed Vella Petroni was driving the Smart car at the time of the crash.

“I was stunned,” one witness said according to Times of Malta.  “I was in a great state of shock. I stood on the pavement until the police arrived and spoke to no one.”

Vella Petroni had been driving on the wrong lane, and when a police sergeant showed up on the scene at around 5.50am, he said that he could smell alcohol and that Vella Petroni looked tired with “black” eyes.

The driver of the Audi said that Vella Petroni was driving at a “high speed” and that would may have crashed into him had he not crashed into the motorcycle in front of him first.

Vella Petroni underwent blood, urine and a breathalyser test, which resulted in a reading of 45.5.

He was also found to be on cocaine and cannabis.

Vella Petroni cooperated with police after the crash, and he remains in custody.

The case will continue 2nd June.