An English backpacker has pleaded guilty after fatally crashing into a father-of-two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol in Australia.
Alicia Kemp, from Redditch, Worcestershire, appeared in Perth Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison on Monday, charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol.
The 25-year-old was over the Australian legal limit when she crashed into Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through Perth’s city centre on May 31.
Thanh Phan hit his head on the pavement and later died in hospital after suffering a brain bleed. Kemp and the scooter’s passenger received minor injuries.
Another charge of causing harm to a passenger while under the influence of alcohol was dropped.
Investigators estimated she was driving at about the maximum speed of a rental e-scooter, 12 to 16 mph, when she crashed into Mr Phan, the court was told at an earlier hearing.
Mike Tudori, Kemp’s lawyer, told reporters outside the court that his client was “nervous and worried” as “a young foreign national girl” in an Australian jail.
“She’s obviously done something stupid at the time,” he said, according to Australian Associated Press.
“She obviously wasn’t thinking, level-headed and there’s consequences, and she just wants to get on with her life.”
Mr Phan’s death put the issue of e-scooter regulations into Australia’s national spotlight, prompting the City of Perth and several other local councils to suspend hire services indefinitely.
Kemp will remain in custody and is due to appear before Perth District Court on October 31, when a date will be set for her sentencing.
In Australia the charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be over 16 years old.
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