Latest news with #AliciaKemp
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Brit backpacker, 24, faces 20 years in jail after ‘mowing down dad-of-two on e-scooter following six-hour pub session'
A BRITISH backpacker is facing 20 years behind bars after allegedly ploughing into a dad-of-two with a hired e-scooter while more than three times the drink-drive limit. Alicia Kemp, 24, was denied bail in an Australian court after being charged over the horror smash that left 51-year-old Thanh Phan with fatal head injuries. 2 2 The holidaymaker is accused of striking Phan from behind while speeding down a footpath in Perth with a friend on board as a passenger. The Brit had also been drinking for six hours before the crash, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Prosecutors said Kemp had a blood alcohol content of 0.158 when she 'careered into his back' at up to 25km/h as the dad stood at a crossing on Saturday night. The court heard walkers had to 'take evasive action' to avoid Kemp's 'inexplicably dangerous' riding, which was captured on CCTV. Her 26-year-old passenger also suffered a fractured skull and broken nose. Kemp, who was in Australia on a four-month tourist visa with her partner, had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub in Perth. She had been drinking with a friend from 2.30pm before they hired the e-scooter just before 8.30pm. Her bail bid was rejected after a magistrate ruled she posed too great a flight risk. 'It's a very difficult decision for the court to make,' the magistrate said. 'The temptation might be that [she] won't return… I can't manage that risk.' Brit facing death penalty in coke smuggling plot all smiles after court rant Phan's devastated family described him as a 'beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend', and are now calling for a crackdown on e-scooter safety laws. 'We also call for a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk,' they said in a statement. In a statement released through police, Phan's grieving family pleaded for privacy and called on authorities to tighten e-scooter hire regulations. 'We also call for a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk,' they said. Phan's loved ones described him as a 'beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend,' and have urged policymakers to curb the growing number of e-scooter incidents in Perth's Central Business District. Local Councillor Anita Fong, who has been campaigning for stricter e-scooter rules, said yesterday that the accident underlined the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures. 'We have seen too many near-misses and hospitalisations in recent months,' Fong stated. 'This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call.' Kemp remains in custody on remand and is due back in court on July 15. Police prosecutors argued that Kemp's status as a foreign tourist working in Perth made her a flight risk, and highlighted the severity of her charges. Western Australian police have confirmed they will continue to investigate whether any additional offences, including possible public nuisance charges, could be laid against Kemp. Meanwhile, e-scooter hire companies in the city are already feeling pressure to introduce speed limiters and more rigorous ID checks after dark.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
City of Perth suspends e-scooters after a pedestrian was struck down and killed by a allegedly drunk rider
The City of Perth has suspended the hire of e-scooters after a pedestrian was knocked down and killed by an alleged drunk rider on Saturday night. Thanh Phan, 51, died from a brain bleed on Tuesday after he was struck from behind by an e-scooter at the intersection of Murray and King St about 8.40pm last Saturday. British backpacker Alicia Kemp, 24, was taken into custody at the scene. Police allege she was under the influence of alcohol with a 26-year-old passenger, before she hit Mr Phan. Her charges were upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death after Mr Phan died. He is the first pedestrian to die in WA from an e-scooter incident. Following the tragic incident, the City of Perth suspended the hire of e-scooters from midday on Thursday. Deputy Lord Mayor Brian Reynolds told the ABC it was 'appropriate' for the council to suspend e-scooter rentals in response to the 'horrible' incident. 'This is a tragedy on all levels … our thoughts are with the family and other extended family and friends,' he said. 'Information is coming to hand in every moment but, in our first instance, our responsibility is to act responsible in a respectful manner.' Mr Reynolds said the City would make a final decision once they had collected all the information they could and looked at the data around the events that led to the tragedy. WA Premier Roger Cook also told ABC Perth it was an appropriate response from the City and while e-scooters were a great way to move around and enjoy communities, there had to be regulations in place. 'We know that e-scooters are a regular feature of major cities right around the world and a way that people move around the cities,' he said. 'We have to make sure that it's safe and I think the council is moving in an absolutely appropriate way.' According to the Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page, at least one person with major injuries caused from e-scooters presented to the Royal Perth Hospital's trauma unit each day. He told ABC Radio there was enough evidence for councils to act and seriously consider similar e-scooter bans. 'It's serious issue, we've been warning about it for years,' he said. 'There is ample evidence for city councils to act on this and to act on it in a more definitive way.' On Tuesday, Mr Phan's family and friends issued a statement calling for more governance and regulations around hired e-scooters to prevent further serious incidents and lives risked. 'We received the heartbreaking news that Thanh passed away as a result of his injuries,' the statement read. 'On Saturday night, Thanh Phan – a beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend – was struck by an electric scooter and critically injured. 'We also call for a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk.'
Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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.
The Age
18 hours ago
- The Age
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.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
British backpacker, 24, killed pedestrian when she ploughed into him while riding an e-scooter drunk in Australia, court hears
A British backpacker allegedly killed a father after ploughing into him while riding drunk on an e-scooter, an Australian court has heard. Alicia Kemp, 24, potentially faces up to 20 years in prison after she was arrested and charged for allegedly riding the hired e-scooter on a footpath and knocking down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan, 51, who died of brain injuries following the May 31 tragedy in Perth, Western Australia. Kemp was told by Perth Magistrates Court that she could not be bailed out as she posed too great a flight risk. The court was told that she was in Australia with her partner on a four-month tourist visa and that she had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish pub in Perth since arriving. She had been out drinking on Saturday afternoon from 2.30pm with a friend, who was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk. Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter at around 8.30pm. Police told the court that she was the main driver, while her friend was a passenger. Prosecutors said that Kemp was driving in an 'inexplicably dangerous' manner, which as caught on CCTV, and that pedestrians were forced to 'take evasive action' as she rode down Murray Street in Perth's Central Business District. She had a blood alcohol level of 0.158 as she was riding. Western Australian law states that electric vehicle drivers must have a level lower than 0.05 to legally drive. She was also travelling at 15mph as 'she careered into his back', prosecutors said, adding that this caused Phan to fall forward and hit his head. Tragically, he suffered 'a significant brain bleed', while Kemp's friend, a 26-year-old who had not yet been identified, was thrown from the scooter and suffered a fractured skull and broken nose. Phan was taken to the Royal Perth Hospital for surgery, where he died on Tuesday. His family said in a statement following his death: 'On Saturday night, Thanh Phan – a beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend – was struck by an electric scooter and critically injured. 'We received the heartbreaking news that Thanh passed away as a result of his injuries. 'We ask that the media respect the privacy of Thanh's family as they grieve their loss. 'The family has no other comment to make on the issue at this time.' The magistrate in charge of Alicia's case said that remanding the British backpacker in custody was a 'very difficult decision for the court to make. He said that the prosecution's strong case and the prospect of a long prison sentence if convicted meant that there was a risk of '[Kemp] not returning to court to answer the charges', adding: 'The temptation might be that [she] won't return. I can't manage that risk.' Kemp remains in custody and will appear before the court again on July 15.
