A 24-year-old British woman, Alicia Kemp from Redditch, has been formally charged in Australia following the death of a man struck in a high-speed e-scooter incident in Perth.
The case has raised growing concerns over electric scooter safety regulations and public usage.
The fatal crash occurred on 31 May in Perth city centre, where Kemp allegedly collided with 51-year-old Thanh Phan while travelling at an estimated speed of 20 to 25km/h (12–15mph) on a pedestrian path. Mr Phan, a father of two, suffered severe head injuries and passed away two days later in hospital.
Authorities say Kemp had been consuming alcohol before the incident and was riding the e-scooter alongside a friend. She now faces a charge of causing death by dangerous driving under the influence, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. She has also been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm after her passenger suffered a fractured skull and broken nose during the collision.
Police reports state Kemp’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.158, more than three times the legal limit in Australia, which is set at 0.05. Court proceedings revealed that Kemp and her friend had been drinking since early afternoon and were removed from a bar due to intoxication shortly before renting the e-scooter at around 20:30.
CCTV footage presented in Perth Magistrates’ Court reportedly shows Kemp driving the scooter in an unsafe manner, with bystanders visibly taking evasive steps prior to the impact with Mr Phan, who had been waiting to cross the road. The court denied Kemp’s bail, citing her status as a working holiday visa holder and potential flight risk. She is due to appear again in court on 15 July.
Kemp’s parents are reported to be travelling to Australia for support, while her boyfriend has attended the hearings in Perth.
The victim, Thanh Phan, was a structural engineer with an international career that spanned Vietnam, Singapore, and Sydney. His family described him as a loving husband and father, and called for stricter safety measures regarding e-scooter hire schemes to prevent further tragedies.
In response to the incident, Perth City Council has suspended its e-scooter hire programme, and authorities have begun removing vehicles from the streets. Western Australia’s Police Minister is also undertaking a comprehensive review of e-scooter regulations, following what local officials have described as a deeply tragic event.
