A British backpacker, Alicia Kemp, has admitted to causing the death of a man in Australia while operating an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol. At the time of the incident, Kemp’s blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit.
On a Saturday in May, Kemp and a friend had been drinking and were expelled from a bar for their intoxication. They later rented an e-scooter and Kemp was traveling at speeds between 12 and 15 miles per hour when she struck 51-year-old Thanh Phan from behind on a pavement in Perth’s city center.
Phan, a father of two, suffered a fatal head injury and passed away two days later from a brain hemorrhage. Kemp’s passenger also sustained injuries, including a fractured skull and a broken nose, but her injuries were not life-threatening.
At Perth’s Magistrates Court, Kemp acknowledged her guilt in the charge of dangerous driving causing death while intoxicated, a crime with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The court dropped a second charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm to her passenger.
It was disclosed that Kemp’s blood alcohol concentration measured 0.158, far exceeding Australia’s legal limit of 0.05. Security footage depicted Kemp’s “inexplicably dangerous” riding before the fatal collision.
The victim’s family previously expressed their grief, describing Thanh Phan as a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend.
Kemp’s lawyer, Michael Tudori, stated that Kemp was relieved after entering her plea and wished to be sentenced before Christmas. She will remain in custody pending her sentencing.
Kemp had arrived in Western Australia on a working holiday visa.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0e999y7vq2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
