**UK Tourist Faces Australian Court After Fatal E-Scooter Collision in Perth**
A British traveller is facing serious legal proceedings in Western Australia following a fatal e-scooter incident that claimed the life of a local father. Alicia Kemp, a 25-year-old from Redditch in Worcestershire, appeared before Perth Magistrates’ Court this week via video link, as authorities investigate her alleged involvement in the death of Thanh Phan, a 51-year-old father of two.
The tragic events unfolded on 31 May in the centre of Perth, where Ms Kemp was reportedly riding an electric scooter. According to the police, she collided with Mr Phan, who later succumbed to his injuries in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under review, but the prosecution claims that Kemp was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Kemp has been formally charged with dangerous driving causing death whilst intoxicated—a grave offence under Western Australian law, carrying a potential maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. She is also facing a secondary charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, also alleged to have occurred under the influence of alcohol.
Legal representatives confirmed that Kemp, who is yet to enter a plea, was refused bail in June and remains remanded in custody. She is set to return to court for further legal arguments on 11 August. The court has not yet determined the full timeline for proceedings or whether the defendant intends to contest the charges.
This incident brings into focus Australia’s strict rules regarding e-scooter usage. Local regulations stipulate that all riders must be over sixteen, abstain from consuming alcohol, wear approved helmets, and refrain from carrying passengers. Authorities have emphasised the importance of such laws, following several high-profile accidents involving e-scooters in recent years.
Mr Phan’s family is said to be devastated by his loss, with friends describing him as a dedicated father and a respected member of his community. Tributes have poured in since news of his death broke, reflecting a wider concern in Perth about the increasing number of e-scooter-related accidents and the potential dangers posed by intoxicated riders.
For many in the UK and Australia, this case serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibilities that come with e-scooter use, particularly as these vehicles become more common in urban settings. In both nations, authorities have been grappling with how best to regulate e-scooters amid growing calls for improved safety standards and tougher penalties for those caught breaking the law.
Legal experts in Australia point to this case as part of a developing trend, where courts are taking a far firmer stance on dangerous driving offences involving modern electric vehicles, including e-scooters. The coming months will prove pivotal not only for Ms Kemp’s immediate legal fate but perhaps also for the wider regulatory landscape surrounding micro-mobility transport.
As the case proceeds through the Western Australian judicial system, both the victim’s family and the accused await further developments, with public sentiment in Perth and back in Kemp’s home community in Worcestershire focused keenly on the outcome. The tragic collision illustrates the profound consequences that can arise from momentary lapses in judgement and the urgent need for continued public education on road safety.