Brit backpacker, 24, facing 20 years in prison over e-scooter crash
A British backpacker is currently facing 20 years in prison.
Alicia Kemp has been charged with death by dangerous driving, while under the influence, following an e-scooter crash.
The 24-year-old allegedly hit Thanh Phan, 51, from behind on a pavement in Perth, Australia, on 31 May. The dad-of-two hit his head and died two days later.
Prosecutors told magistrates she had been going at speeds of 12-15 mph when she hit the man.
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With the charge carrying a maximum 20-year prison term Down Under, Kemp has been denied bail and her parents are reportedly flying out to be with her.
The psychology graduate from Redditch, Worcestershire, had been travelling with a four-month tourist visa with her partner and had been working in a local Irish pub.
In a subsequent court hearing, it was alleged she had been drinking with a friend before they both got onto the scooter.
Kemp faces an additional charge of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm while under the influence as the passenger was thrown from the e-scooter in the crash.
They suffered a fractured skull and broken nose as a result.
Police say she had a blood alcohol content level of 0.158 when she hit Phan – the legal drink-driving alcohol limit in Western Australia is 0.05.
The court heard how Kemp and her friend had been drinking since 2:30pm and had been forcibly evicted from a bar because of their intoxication.
They then hired the e-scooter just before 8:30pm.
Prosecutors added that CCTV footage showed her ‘inexplicably dangerous’ driving with others in her path taking ‘evasive action’.
As a magistrate ruled Kemp posed a significant flight risk and therefore denied her bail, saying: “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."
She is set to return to court on 15 July as police say they will continue to investigate whether charges like public nuisance charges could be brought against her.
In a statement, Phan’s family described him as a ‘beloved husband, father-of-two, brother, and dear friend’ and have been calling for a crackdown on safety laws around the vehicles.
“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.
Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds called his death a ‘tragic event’ as Perth’s city council have suspended the use of hire e-scooters.
Jess Battison