Parents of a 24-year-old British backpacker, involved in a fatal e-scooter collision, embark on a trip to Australia, facing potential imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Scooter Mishap Sends Brit Abroad in Legal Tangle
A heartbreaking situation unfolded in Perth, Australia, as 24-year-old Alicia Kemp, a psychology graduate from Redditch, Worcestershire, found herself behind bars, charged with fatal and grievous driving infractions following a tragic e-scooter crash.
At the center of the turmoil lies 51-year-old Thanh Phan, a father of two, who succumbed to his injuries two days after the horrid incident that took place on a Saturday night. Kemp, originally in Australia on a four-month tourist visa with her partner, is accused of striking Phan from behind while speeding down a footpath, all while under the influence.
The authorities allege that Kemp, whose blood alcohol content was a staggering 0.158, "careered into his back" at speeds of up to 25 km/h. Prosecutors pointed out that Kemp's status as a foreign tourist working in Perth, along with the severity of the charges, made her a flight risk. This factor played a crucial role in denying her bail in an Australian court.
The fateful incident occurred when Kemp, reportedly inebriated after six hours of drinking, hopped on an e-scooter with a friend as a passenger, before colliding with Phan at a crosswalk. Passersby had to take evasive action to avoid Kemp's "exasperatingly reckless" riding, as captured by CCTV cameras. Kemp's passenger also sustained serious injuries, including a fractured skull and a broken nose.
Kemp's partner and family have expressed their support, with her parents making their way to Australia to be with her during these difficult times. Phan's grieving family has called for privacy and an intensification of e-scooter safety laws. Simultaneously, they have requested a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters in an attempt to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
The case is set to unfold further in the Perth Magistrates Court on July 15. Police prosecutors will continue to investigate if any additional offenses, including public nuisance charges, could be levied against Kemp. Meanwhile, the incident has instigated calls for a review of safety laws surrounding rented e-scooters, with several councils, including the City of Perth and the City of Vincent, already suspending the use of e-scooters on their territories.
The Sun Headlines
- Backpacker's Tragic Fall: A British backpacker found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft in Malaysia. Read More
- Demanding DBAT: Brit backpacker faces 20 years after allegedly "mowing down" a father-of-two on an e-scooter. Read More
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- The e-scooter accident that led to a British backpacker's legal tangle in Australia is also trending as a general news story in the UK, with The Sun reporting on the fatal charges against Alicia Kemp.
- As the tragedy unfolds in Perth, the case of Kemp, charged with grievous driving infractions following the incident, is being labeled under crime and justice, sports, and basketball sections of various news outlets due to the extreme circumstances surrounding the accident.
- In contrast to the grim headlines about the car-accidents and crime-and-justice cases, a story about the NCAA basketball season is gaining traction, promising a reprieve from the heavy news.
