Man pleads guilty over crash that killed a motorcyclist and maimed his brother
Zachary McLaren pleaded guilty to two charges after a crash he caused claimed the life of one man and maimed his brother.
A man who allegedly caused a crash that claimed the life of one man and cost his brother his leg has pleaded guilty in a Perth court.
Police said Zachary McLaren, 26, was driving a Holden Commodore sedan along South Coast Hwy, west of the Great Southern town of Ravensthorpe, on February 19 when he collided head-on with two Honda motorcycles.
One of the riders, 67-year-old Ken Topperwien, died from injuries suffered in the crash, while his brother Lindsay, 68, had to be flown to Royal Perth Hospital, where he later had to have his right leg amputated.
Mr McLaren was taken to a local hospital before also being flown to Royal Perth with lower leg injuries.
He appeared in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where he pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully killed another under such circumstances as not to constitute murder, and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
He’s due for sentencing in July.
Mr McLaren has also been charged with a string of offences after methamphetamine and a rifle were allegedly found in the wreck of his car following the crash.
The matters are being heard in Perth Magistrates court later in May.