Psychology graduate Alicia Kemp, 24, is being held in an Australian jail after being charged over a fatal e-scooter crash – her parents have flown out to be with her
A 24-year-old British backpacker could face up to 20 years in jail after she was charged over the death of a man in an e-scooter crash, with her parents flying to Australia.
An Australian court denied bail to Alicia Kemp, 24, from Redditch, Worcestershire, after she was charged with death by dangerous driving while under the influence. She was allegedly involved in an e-scooter crash that resulted in the death of Thanh Phan, 51, from a fatal head injury last Saturday. The psychology graduate allegedly hit Phan from behind as she sped down a Perth footpath while her friend was a passenger on the same scooter.
Kemp could face up to 20 years behind bars if found guilty. A neighbour of Kemp’s parents in Redditch claimed they had flown to Australia on Tuesday in order to to be with their daughter.
Prosecutors said Kemp had a blood alcohol level of 0.158 when she “careered” into Phan’s back at 25km per hour. The court heard pedestrians needed to “take evasive action” to avoid Kemp’s “dangerous” scooter riding.
The 26-year-old passenger suffered a fractured skull and broken nose in the crash. Kemp faces an additional charge of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm while under the influence for injuries suffered by her passenger
Kemp had been on a four-month tourist visa with her partner and was working at the Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub in Perth at the time of the incident.
Kemp’s bail was denied after a magistrate ruled she posed a significant flight risk. The magistrate said: “It’s a very difficult decision for the court to make. The temptation might be that [she] won’t return… I can’t manage that risk.”
Phan’s family described him as a “beloved husband, father-of-two, brother, and dear friend”, and have since called for a crackdown on safety laws around e-scooters.
“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,” the family said.
Kemp remains in custody and is set to return to court on July 15. Police in Western Australia said they will continue to investigate whether additional charges, including public nuisance charges, could be brought against her.