‘Cheeky, kind' man killed in horrific East Freo truck crash
The devastated family of an e-scooter rider who died when he was hit by a truck in East Fremantle has spoken of the 'free-spirited, fun-loving, kind and empathetic soul' they lost last week.
Kevin Sanders, 31, was killed after the scooter he was riding collided with a truck at the intersection of Canning and Stirling highways late on May 28.
Mr Sanders' cousin Kerrie Farrell told PerthNow the pair had grown up together in their nanna's house in Bullsbrook.
'He was so cheeky but the most loving, caring and happiest person I know,' Ms Farrell said through tears.
'You could be in the worst mood and that man would never let anyone be sad, he would light up every room he walked into.' His family said he lit up every room he walked into. Credit: Facebook
Mr Sanders had a passion for fixing electric scooters and dedicated his time to tinkering with them when he wasn't working as a landscaper, often sharing YouTube videos to help others.
His family said he was very hardworking but would want to be remembered for his humour.
'Cracking jokes and making people smile was important to Kevin because it would fill his cup,' Melanie Farrell — another of Mr Sanders' cousins — said.
'He will forever be remembered as the most adventurous, caring soul that had time for anyone and everyone.'
Mr Sanders' mother Suzanne Sanders posted a social media tribute to her son just two days after the accident.
Kevin you were the goofiest, funniest young man. Always laughing, making others laugh and having a joke.
'It is with immeasurable sadness that I write this post today,' it read.
'Our biggest boy sadly passed away after a vehicle accident on Wednesday night.
'Kevin you were the goofiest, funniest young man. Always laughing, making others laugh and having a joke, not to mention waking me up at crazy times to visit.
'Loved by so many and will be missed more than you could ever imagine.
'Rest peacefully, sweetheart, we love you xx.'
Friend Michael Styles had been on a ride with the 31-year-old earlier that fateful night and posted a video of the group riding through the streets.
Mr Styles wrote on social media that he could not believe Mr Sanders was gone and that they had been riding together just half an hour earlier.
'Can't believe you're gone, just can't believe (I) saw and (hung) out that night, only 30mins before going home from the group ride,' he wrote. Kevin Sanders. Credit: Supplied
'Ya going to be missed by a lot definitely made us laugh a lot, and so many rides together r.i.p man just wish it was just a bad dream miss ya man (sic).'
Another friend, Rhys Scott Maher, posted videos of Mr Sanders riding his e-scooter, writing that he did not deserve to die.
A nurse who was on her way home from a nearby aged care facility also spoke of the moment she tried to save Mr Sanders after she saw him lying on the road.
'I came out of my car to save his life, but then I saw him, he was badly injured,' she said.
'I am so sad for him and his family.
'I was literally crying last night . . . I couldn't save that man.'
Mr Sanders' cousins said they are 'eternally grateful' to the nurse who tried to save him.
Recent figures provided to Parliament show four people have been killed riding an e-scooter in the first five months of the year — higher than the three in 2024, and just one death the year prior.
A pedestrian in Perth also died this week after being struck by an e-scooter on Saturday night. Thanh Phan, 51, died later from critical injuries received in the incident.
Alicia Kemp, a 24-year-old visiting from the UK, is accused of striking Mr Phan at the intersection of Murray and King streets about 8.40pm on Saturday.
On Tuesday one of her initial charges was upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning death under the influence of alcohol.
She also faces a charge of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm under the influence of alcohol after her 26-year-old female pillion passenger suffered non life-threatening injuries in the crash and was treated in hospital.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Police hunt for missing luggage after teen's body found
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"The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said. "It's an unforgiving terrain." Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information. Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located. He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant. "However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said. Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy. "There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP. "We believe our community to be kind and accepting. "To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it." The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley. A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen. "We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car. Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks. The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign. Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home". Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11. Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage. James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland. Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site. Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times. Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene. "The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said. "It's an unforgiving terrain." Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information. Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located. He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant. "However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said. Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy. "There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP. "We believe our community to be kind and accepting. "To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it." The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley. A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen. "We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car. Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks. The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign. Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home". Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11. Police will continue to comb unforgiving terrain where the remains of a missing teenager were found as they attempt to recover a key item to their murder investigation, her luggage. James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged three weeks to the day after 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop missed a flight and vanished in southern Queensland. Officers discovered what are believed to be the teenager's remains about 2.30pm on Friday near Good Night Scrub National Park, about 280km northeast of Brisbane and nine kilometres from the original search site. Police allege Wood and Bromley moved Pheobe's body a number of times. Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield revealed on Saturday that the remains were not buried but did not give specifics of the scene. "The remains were found in bushland ... coupled with snippets of information and telecommunications data; that's allowed us to find this location," he said. "It's an unforgiving terrain." Detectives have set up a crime scene and continue to appeal for further information. Insp Mansfield confirmed the 17-year-old's luggage had not been located. He said forensic searches of a home in Gin Gin, where the girl lived, had not identified anything significant. "However that scene is complex, we are still waiting on a number of forensic results to come back from that examination," Insp Mansfield said. Officers have been in contact with Pheobe's family, with her mother Kylie Johnson quick to share her grief on social media. "I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid but this! This is ripping me apart ..." she posted on Facebook. Wood and Bromley were housemates with Pheobe on the property at Gin Gin, a quiet regional community near Bundaberg left reeling from the tragedy. "There is a sense of 'this wouldn't happen here'," Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn told AAP. "We believe our community to be kind and accepting. "To have this tragedy happen in our region ... it's been very difficult trying to make sense of it." The community has thrown its arms around Pheobe's family, with floral tributes laid outside the property she shared with Wood and Bromley. A candlelight vigil has been organised on Sunday where locals will pay tribute to the beloved teen. "We now need to come together as a community, support and care for one another as we try to move forward," Cr Blackburn said. Pheobe was last seen near Bundaberg airport about 8.30am on May 15 after booking a trip to Western Australia to see her boyfriend. Police allege Wood and Bromley drove Pheobe close to the airport but no one got out of the car. Cr Blackburn said it had been "heart-wrenching" after locals had held on to hope for weeks. The Gin Gin community had rallied around the missing teen's family during the search with a Leave the Lights On for Pheobe campaign. Some posted photos on social media of their front lights switched on "to guide Pheobe home". Wood and Bromley have been remanded in custody ahead of their next Bundaberg Magistrates Court appearance on August 11.
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Perth Now
10 hours ago
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‘Ripping me apart': Pheobe's mum reacts to body discovery
Pheobe Bishop's mother has spoken of her heartbreak after police reportedly found the remains of the 17-year-old, following a search of an area near Good Night Scrub National Park near Gin Gin. Pheobe had been missing for three weeks. Queensland Police charged James Wood, 34, and Tamika Bromley, 33, with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. Kylie Johnson said the news was 'ripping me apart' in a post on Facebook. 'I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it did when you went missing, or when the charges were laid, but this! This is ripping me apart...,' she wrote on Friday after remains of a body had been discovered. Pheobe Bishop, 17, went missing on May 15 Credit: Kylie Johnson/facebook / supplied Pheobe's disappearance has gripped Australia for more than three weeks and made headlines around the world as police combed bushland and appealed to the public for help to find her. Mr Wood and Ms Bromley were living with Pheobe in a rundown, garbage-strewn house in the small Queensland town of Gin Gin when she vanished. The pair claimed they dropped her to Bundaberg airport in their grey Hyundai ix35 before she vanished on May 15. But police say CCTV at the airport proved she never made it. On May 21, police declared the teenager's disappearance as suspicious. Her home and the car she drove in with her two housemates were both declared crime scenes. On Wednesday this week, police announced they were calling off the 'physical search' for Pheobe. They later arrested Mr Wood before releasing him without charge. On Thursday, police charged both Mr Wood and Mr Bromley. They both received mentions in Bundaberg Magistrates Court before being remanded to reappear on August 11. At 2.30pm on Friday, officers discovered what they believe is Pheobe's body. A vigil will be held for the 17-year-old on Sunday afternoon at Kolan Community Park in Gin Gin.
