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An English backpacker has been sentenced to four years in prison after fatally colliding with a father of two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol. The incident followed an extensive drinking session.
Twenty-five-year-old Alicia Kemp hit 51-year-old Thanh Phan in central Perth last May. The tragic accident occurred after Kemp attended a bottomless brunch followed by visits to several bars.
Kemp’s blood alcohol level was recorded at 0.185, exceeding the legal driving limit by more than threefold.
Phan, a structural engineer, had been enjoying an evening with friends and was strolling along a footpath when Kemp, traveling at “full speed,” struck him from behind.
The impact caused Phan to spin and fall backward, resulting in severe head injuries as he hit the road.
He suffered a significant brain injury and died in hospital two days later.
CCTV footage released by the court shows Kemp and a passenger on the scooter weaving in and out of pedestrians in a dangerous manner in the moments before Phan was struck.
Kemp’s passenger was also seriously injured, suffering fractures to her head and nose, and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The court heard Kemp hit Phan at a speed of about 20km/h, double the legal limit.
After Phan and the passenger were taken to hospital, Kemp continued to drink at other venues in the city until the early hours of the following morning.
Kemp, who was in Western Australia on a working holiday visa, previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death – under the influence of alcohol.
She was sentenced in the WA District Court today to four years’ imprisonment with eligibility for parole and disqualified from holding a driver’s licence for two years.
Judge Wendy Hughes said it was important to send a clear message to the community.
“You, Ms Kemp, are the cautionary tale,” she said.
“E-scooters are not toys.
“If you drive them whilst drunk at speed … and there is a crash and someone dies or is seriously injured, this is not classed as an accident.
“You are responsible for that person’s death, and that is the truth for you.
“It was not an accident. You are responsible for the death of a good man, and I accept that you understand that.”
Kemp, a psychology and criminology graduate, had spent part of her voyage volunteering before travelling to Perth.
Her sentence was backdated to June 1 to reflect the time she has been in custody.
The incident thrust e-scooters into the spotlight and triggered a WA parliamentary inquiry into their safety.