(PONCA, NE) A Nebraska man admitted he was drunk driving when he crashed into a motorcycle and killed two college students. Robert Mahler plead guilty Monday to three different counts: two on vehicular homicide and one of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Chris Oberg and Alexis Calfee were riding a motorcycle just west of Emerson, Nebraska when police say Mahler drove into their lane and crashed into them. Both Wayne State students died that night from the accident.
Oberg is the son of Mapleton Iowa School's Superintendent, Steve Oberg. A big crowd of family and friends from Mapleton and Wayne State showed up for the hearing. Chris was 20-years-old and his girlfriend, Alexis was 18.
This is not the first time Mahler's been caught drunk driving. He had a DUI back in 2010. Both parents of the victims are relieved he plead guilty to all three charges.
"It's almost bittersweet because we see this coming to an end now and having to relive this, the day September 9th, is just horrible and now we have to pick up and do the best we can to live our lives. It's not easy," said Todd Calfee, Alexis' father.
"We expected a no contest plea in that regard but the guilty plea is a good plea to move forward and try to put an end to the court proceedings for us and for us to move on with our lives. We'll never be the same without Chris but I know Chris would want us to go on," said Steve Oberg.
Mahler will hear his sentencing on January 23. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison for each homicide charge and a one year sentence for the DUI plus some fines to repay the families' losses. He could also lose driving privileges altogether.
