A British 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.
Another charge of causing harm to a passenger while under the influence of alcohol was dropped.
The charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
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.
Mr Phan died in hospital days later after suffering a brain bleed.
Kemp and the scooter’s passenger also suffered minor injuries.
According to the Australian Associated Press, Kemp’s lawyer Mike Tudori told reporters outside the court that his client was ‘nervous and worried’ being a ‘young foreign national girl’ in an overseas jail.
‘She’s obviously done something stupid at the time,’ he said.
‘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 thrust the issue of e-scooter regulations into Australia’s national spotlight, prompting the City of Perth and several other local councils to suspend e-scooter hire services indefinitely.
In an earlier statement, Mr Phan’s family described him as a ‘beloved husband, father of two and dear friend’.
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.
Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be aged over 16 years old.
Police allege psychology graduate Kemp had been drinking from 2.30pm that afternoon with a friend and was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk.
Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter around 8.30pm. According to officers, she was the main rider while her friend was illegally riding as a passenger.
After her arrest, her parents flew to Australia to be with her, according to The Times,
She had been travelling through East Asia and Australia with her boyfriend on a four-month tourist visa. She had been working at a pub called Durty Nelly’s at the time of the incident.
On LinkedIn, she describes herself as a digital nomad and said she was taking a ‘career break’ to focus on travelling. She often shared her experiences on TikTok.
Mr Phan’s family and friends have now called on authorities to take action against E-scooters.
Last month, a close friend told ABC News: ‘E-scooters for hire are motorised vehicles that require no licence to operate and are often stationed outside bars and clubs, inviting use by people who may be intoxicated.
‘We call on the City of Perth and the minister for transport to take decisive action.
The head of trauma services at Royal Perth Hospital revealed a disturbing rise in e-scooter injuries, many linked to alcohol.
