City of Perth suspends e-scooter hire in wake of fatal CBD crash
The City of Perth will suspend the hiring of e-scooters from midday on Thursday after a British tourist allegedly hit and killed a 51-year-old man in the CBD.
Alicia Kemp, 24, allegedly struck Thanh Phan from behind at the intersection of King Street and Murray Street while riding an e-scooter drunk and at speeds of up to 20-25km/h on Saturday night.
Phan was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, while Kemp was arrested and charged at the scene.
On Tuesday, her charges were upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death after Phan died in hospital.
In a statement, City of Perth Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds described Phan's death as a 'tragic event' and said his thoughts were with the man's family during 'this very sad time'.
'In response to the fatality, the City of Perth has suspended the hiring of e-scooters from 12pm today (Thursday),' he said.
Further details on the suspension will be released later on Thursday.
Neuron Mobility, one of the two major players operating e-scooters in Perth, have responded to the suspension.
A spokesperson said they respected the decision to temporarily ban the e-scooters while the investigation into Phan's death continues.
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An English backpacker arrested over the death of a 51-year-old Perth father is a psychology and criminology graduate who has spent part of her travels volunteering at an animal shelter in the Philippines. Alicia Kemp, 24, is alleged to have been drunk last Saturday evening when she hired an e-scooter in Perth's CBD with a friend before allegedly slamming into the back of Thanh Phan who was waiting to cross the road at the intersections of King and Murray Street just after 8.30pm. The force of the collision caused Phan to fall forward and hit his head. He died from a brain bleed on Tuesday morning. Kemp's 26-year-old friend, who had allegedly been evicted from a bar due to intoxication before the collision, was riding on the back of the scooter and suffered a fractured skull and broken nose as a result of the crash. Kemp was arrested and charged at the scene, and on Tuesday had those charges upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death. Her attempt to be released on bail while the matter proceeds through the courts was denied, a magistrate stating that she was too great of a flight risk. She faces 20 years in prison if convicted. Her family are believed to be travelling to Perth to support her and her partner has been attending court in support. Kemp is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University in central England where she studied a bachelor of science in psychology with criminology before completing a masters in forensic mental health.
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