Witness describes moment three cars collided, claiming life of primary school teacher Bernice Sternberg at McLaren Vale

A witness has described the moment three cars “exploded” when they collided at a McLaren Vale intersection claiming the life of a popular primary school teacher Bernice Sternberg.

Footage has been released of the moment “everything exploded” in a horror crash that killed a primary school teacher.

John Tsalapatis is standing trial in the District Court this week after allegedly killing

Bernice Sternberg, 61, by driving dangerously on Main Road in McLaren Vale on March 28, 2021.

John Tsalapatis outside Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier appearance. Photo: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

Ron Sternberg, husband of Bernice Sternberg is seen leaving Adelaide District Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Roy VanDerVegt

Prosecutor Jim Pearce KC told the court in his opening statement that Mrs Sternberg and her husband Ron had been to church and visited Mrs Sternberg’s mother in a nursing home on the day of the crash.

Mr Sternberg was driving his wife of 36 years home at 5.30pm when they approached the intersection of Main Rd and McMurtrie Rd.

Footage, released by the District Court, shows the moment the three cars collided at the intersection, throwing Ms Sternberg’s car into nearby rose bushes.

Maria Silvestri, a passenger in the car that captured the dashcam footage, said they’d been following Mr Tsalapatis’ car for quite some time on McMurtrie Rd before witnesses the crash.

“I could see a car on the left... and then all of a sudden the car in front has just crossed the intersection and everything exploded,” she said.

Ms Silvestri said she and her family members jumped out of their car and talked to the people involved, with Mr Tsalapatis asking her if the woman, who turned out to be Ms Sternberg, was okay.

“He was asking how everybody was and I was sitting with his wife on the ground,” she said.

“He was on the phone going around the car... I couldn’t understand what he was saying... he was speaking another language.”

McLaren Vale teacher Bernice Sternberg was tragically killed in the crash. Picture: McLaren Vale Primary School

Mr Pearce said Mr Tsalapatis was behind the wheel of a black Subaru heading west at the intersection and allegedly failed to give way, while travelling at about 80km/h.

“In the few seconds or so before the impact his car slowed … but it barely slowed at all, it didn’t slow in any meaningful matter,” he said.

“On the prosecution case he just ploughed through the intersection.”

The court heard Mr Tsalapatis “T-boned” the Sternberg’s Nissan Pulsar, with the point of impact to the front passenger side where Mrs Sternberg was seated.

Mr Pearce said the force of the impact pushed the Sternberg’s car into the other lane, colliding head-on with a car Ben Moulton was driving, who had his teenage daughters as passengers.

The court heard Mrs Sternberg had to be cut from the wreckage and underwent emergency surgery at the Flinders Medical Centre but died from her injuries five days later.

Mr Moulton and Mr Sternberg suffered minor injuries.

Mr Pearce said there was a give way warning sign 170m back from the intersection, which Mr Tsalapatis allegedly ignored.

Mr Tsalapatis, of Whyalla, pleaded not guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving.

Jane Abbey KC, for Mr Tsalapatis, said it wouldn’t be disputed that Mr Tsalapatis needed to give way at the intersection but whether her client’s driving was criminally dangerous was what was in contention.

Mr Sternberg told the court the crash was an “instant blur” and it happened so quick he didn’t even have time to brake or to tell his wife to look out.

On Wednesday, Police major crash reconstruction expert, Sergeant Mark Fulcher told the court emergency braking will generally decrease a driver’s speed by 25km/h per second.

However, the court heard reports showed Mr Tsalapatis’ speed only decreased from 84km to 71km/h over a period of two seconds.

The trial before a jury continues.

Originally published as Witness describes moment three cars collided, claiming life of primary school teacher Bernice Sternberg at McLaren Vale