Sendeku Tesema identified as taxi driver killed in crash near Perth Airport

A taxi driver killed in a fiery crash that police suspect was deliberately caused by another driver has been identified as a beloved father of three.

A taxi driver killed in a horror crash near Perth Airport that police suspect may have been deliberately caused has been identified as a beloved father of three who was “loved by all”.

Sendeku Tesema, 58, was one of four people who died in the head-on collision between a taxi and a Toyota RAV4 on the Leach Highway at about 2.30am on Monday.

The driver of a Toyota RAV4 involved in a catastrophic crash that killed four people — including a mother and daughter — made a “conscious decision” to travel on the wrong side of a major Perth highway moments before they slammed into a taxi, police believe. Picture: 7News

By the time emergency services arrived at the scene, the RAV4 was engulfed in flames.

Mr Tesema and the two passengers he was driving home from the airport - now identified as a mother and daughter from Perth, aged 81 and 56 - all died, along with the driver of the other vehicle.

A taxi driver has been killed after an oncoming car drove down the wrong side of the road and collided with the vehicle on a major highway near the Perth airport. Picture: Facebook

The father-of-three is remembered for his kind heart. Picture: Facebook.

Upon hearing the news of Mr Tesema’s death, his wife was so devastated she required an ambulance.

His 18-year-old daughter remembered her father as a man who was “loved by all”.

“He was the funniest, most caring man,” she told 7News. “Our condolences go out to all of the other families affected.”

Fellow taxi driver Setegn Abate described Mr Tesema as a generous and kind man who would help anyone, with another colleage Toli Walki saying it was “a big loss”.

“It’s shocking for the taxi industry and for all of us,” he said per Daily Mail.

The horror crash claimed four lives. Source: Reddit.

WA Detective Senior Sargeant Hugh Le Tessier said on Monday that the driver of the RAV4 made the “conscious decision” to cross over to the wrong side of the road.

Authorities retrieved an SD card from the RAV4 with clear footage of the driver crossing underneath the Leach Highway overpass,

Following the crash, authorities retrieved an SD card from the RAV4, with clear footage showing the driver crossing underneath the Leach Hwy overpass, turning left and travelling up the offramp.

Senior Sargeant Le Tessier said it was unclear why the driver moved into the wrong lane.

“That’s probably something we’ll never know,” he said.

Leach Hwy was closed for several hours while emergency services worked to clear the scene. Source: Reddit.

Police allege the driver of the RAV4 was driving erratically before the fatal collision.

“Files on that SD card indicate he was driving through the streets of Belmont and Cloverdale prior to the incident well in excess of the posted speed limits,” he said.

“The RAV4 was completely engulfed in flames, so to retrieve the dashcam is certainly something that we’re very happy to have done.”

Authorities closed the highway between Leach Hwy, the Tonkin Hwy and Orrong Rd for five hours while they examined the fatal collision site and removed debris from the road.

Police have called on any witnesses or anyone with footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Sendeku Tesema identified as taxi driver killed in crash near Perth Airport