British Backpacker Pleads Guilty to Fatal E-Scooter DUI in Australia

A 25-year-old British backpacker, Alicia Kemp, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a man in Perth, Australia. The incident occurred when she struck the man while riding an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol. Kemp, originally from Redditch, Worcestershire, admitted to dangerous driving causing death during a court appearance conducted via video link.

The prosecution dropped a second charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm related to her passenger. The charge of dangerous driving causing death while intoxicated carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years in Australia.

The events leading up to the collision involved Kemp and a friend drinking on May 31st. They were later ejected from a bar. Subsequently, Kemp rented an e-scooter and was traveling at a speed between 20 and 25 kilometers per hour when she collided with Thanh Phan, a structural engineer.

Mr. Phan, aged 51, was described by his family as a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend. He sustained a severe head injury and died in the hospital several days later due to a brain bleed. Kemp's passenger, a 26-year-old woman, suffered a fractured skull and a broken nose but survived. Kemp herself sustained minor injuries.

Court proceedings revealed that Kemp's blood alcohol level was 0.158, exceeding the legal limit of 0.05 by a significant margin. Prosecutors presented CCTV footage depicting her riding the scooter in a manner they described as "inexplicably dangerous" shortly before the accident.

Kemp's defense lawyer, Michael Tudori, stated that his client was anxious and concerned as a "young foreign national girl in our prison system." He expressed relief that the secondary charge had been dropped. He acknowledged that Kemp had made a mistake and was now focused on moving forward.

The collision resulted in Mr. Phan becoming the first pedestrian in Western Australia to die in an e-scooter incident. This tragedy prompted the Perth city council and other local authorities to suspend e-scooter hire schemes.

Western Australian law mandates that e-scooter riders must be over 16, wear a helmet, be sober, and not carry passengers. Kemp, who was in Australia on a working holiday visa, remains in custody. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 31st. Her lawyer expressed a desire to conclude the sentencing process before Christmas, citing the concern of her family in the UK.