A 28-year-old man has been granted bail after being charged with assaulting the driver of a ute which struck and killed his friend in the NSW Riverina region.

Harley Turner and his friend, also 28, were riding trail bikes without headlights or helmets when the crash occurred at Howlong, near Albury, at about 8:30pm on Thursday.

Mr Turner is accused of assaulting the driver of the ute before stealing the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

He allegedly returned and assaulted the victim a second time.

Mr Turned appeared in Albury Local Court on Friday.

The prosecution opposed bail but Mr Turner, who did not know the victim, was released with conditions including a $5,000 surety.

He has been charged with stealing the ute, driving during a disqualification period and assault.

The site of the crash near Albury which claimed the life of a 28-year-old man. ( ABC News )

Mr Turner embraced supporters as he left the court building.

The 65-year-old driver was taken to Albury Base Hospital with non-serious injuries to his face.

The man also underwent drug and alcohol testing.

The 28-year-old embraced supporters after facing Albury Local Court ( ABC News )

'Tragic set of circumstances'

Murray River district Inspector Paul Huggett said reports of unregistered trail bikes being ridden were common in regional towns.

He said the outcome of this incident was very unusual, and would be felt by the community.

"These sort of incidents have a flow on effect right through communities, from school kids, to business owners, to retirees. It's a whole of community effect," he said.

"If [the victim's] local they've lost one of their community members, if they're not local, it's happened in their patch, it's happened in their town, and there's that flow-on effect.

"It's just a tragic set of circumstances."

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.