British backpacker guilty after fatal e-scooter crash in Perth

A British backpacker pleads guilty after hitting a man with an e-scooter while alcohol levels were well above the legal limit in Western Australia.

British backpacker guilty after fatal e-scooter crash in Perth

A British backpacker, Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch, Worcestershire, has pleaded guilty in Western Australia to causing the death of Thanh Phan after she struck him with an e-scooter on a Perth city pavement.

The court heard Kemp and a friend had been drinking and were kicked out of a bar before hiring the scooter. Kemp was driving at 20 to 25 km/h when she hit Phan, a 51-year-old father of two, who died in hospital two days later from a brain bleed. Police said Kemp’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit at the time of the crash.

The case shows how nightlife and city mobility can clash in tourist hubs. E-scooters are common in Perth, but safety rules on pavements demand strict compliance, especially when alcohol is involved.

Judicial outcomes in tourist incidents can shape public expectations and policy responses. The verdict may influence how cities frame safety messaging for visitors and how strictly local rules are enforced in busy nightlife districts.

Highlights

Public safety remains a shared responsibility for visitors and hosts.