As it happened: WA news on Thursday, June 26

WA Police have just provided some more details on the fatal crash in Perth’s south-east on Wednesday night.

Major Crime Division detective superintendent Gary Saunders.Credit: 9 News Perth

Major Crime Division detective superintendent Gary Saunders said police allegedly attempted to stop a 26-year-old man driving a Nissan Navara in Wattle Grove, and a short chase began.

But due to the “erratic” driving, including on the wrong side of the road, police ended that chase after less than a minute due to the risk being posed to public safety.

Then at the intersection of Tonkin Highway and Hale Road in Forrestfield, the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light and crashed with a blue Ford Falcon, killing the driver and injuring a passenger.

The Nissan then spun out of control, struck a traffic light and then came to rest on top of a stationary police car that was not involved in the prior evade police incident.

No officers were injured.

“This is a very tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends and anyone that’s affected by this devastating crash,” he said.

“Another innocent life has been lost on our roads through the alleged reckless and dangerous acts of another driver.”

We’re bringing our blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.

Here’s some of the day’s headlines:

• One person has died and two have been rushed to hospital after a horror crash in Forrestfield, at the intersection of Hale Road and Tonkin Highway, just after 10pm on Wednesday night. A 26-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter, among other offences, after he allegedly evaded police and drove “recklessly” before the crash.

• Trains were cancelled between Claremont and Fremantle this morning, after what WAtoday understands was a fire in the brake unit of a Transperth train near Victoria Street station.

• The Perth Heat baseball team has announced it is exiting the national competition, but the league has thrown the club a lifeline, offering to operate it for the coming season until a new licence holder could be found.

• Virgin Australia’s inaugural Perth to Doha flight, in alliance with Qatar Airways, has taken off today, in the midst of a tumultuous time for air travel. It was unfortunate timing for the new route, given a Qantas flight to Paris, which stopped in Doha, was turned around earlier this week after Iranian airstrikes on a US base in Qatar.

• Some of Western Australia’s unique reptiles have been rescued from smugglers who were attempting to send them interstate through Perth Airport, and two men have been sentenced in court over the offending.

• New coach Joe Montemurro will get his first taste of life in the Matildas hot seat when he takes the reins for tonight’s clash with Slovenia at Perth’s HBF Park.

Thank you again for tuning in today, we’ll see you back here tomorrow for more news you need to know.

Fire ants on a shipping container that arrived in WA from South East Queensland have been intercepted at Hope Valley, in Perth’s south.

Fire ants could reside in every state and territory of Australia if left unchecked.Credit: iStock

Authorities were alerted to the invasive pest on June 17 by a worker, who spotted the live ants on the shipping container and alerted the National Fire Ant Eradication Program after spraying household insect spray on them.

The group teamed up with Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development officers to destroy the ants, inspect the business, and deploy a “precautionary chemical treatment”.

The NFAEP confirmed on Tuesday that the ants were fire ants.

General manager operations Marni Manning said the incident was a strong reminder that community and industry vigilance could stop the ants’ spread.

“It only takes one missed shipment to put an entire community at risk. Fire ants don’t stop at borders – neither can we,” she said.

The invasive species of red-brown ant has the potential to cause havoc if it is allowed to run unchecked throughout WA.

The ants are known for their ability to bind together and “raft” to survive floods and travel across waterways, and post a threat to wildlife and farm animals.

Everton midfielder Clare Wheeler has become the latest Matildas star to be ruled out of the current international window as new coach Joe Montemurro attempts to begin his era with a bang.

Montemurro will get his first taste of life in the Matildas hot seat when he takes the reins for tonight’s clash with Slovenia at Perth’s HBF Park.

The teams will lock horns again at the same venue on Sunday, before the Matildas face Panama on July 5 in Bunbury and July 8 back at HBF Park in Perth.

The Matildas train at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth ahead of their friendly against Slovenia.Credit: Getty Images

The four matches mark an important building block for Montemurro as he attempts to bed down a new game plan ahead of next year’s Asian Cup in Australia, which begins on March 1.

But the 55-year-old will be without a host of his best players.

Superstar striker Sam Kerr is in camp but still recovering from the ACL rupture she suffered more than 17 months ago.

Mary Fowler (knee) and Tameka Yallop (leg) are also out injured, while Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry and Cortnee Vine are all on personal leave.

Wheeler arrived in Perth earlier this week but on Wednesday withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons.

Chloe Berryhill and Jessika Nash have since been rushed into the squad.

Montemurro had successful coaching stints at Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon and wants to implement an attacking, possession-based style at the Matildas, who have slipped to 15th in the world.

He said the games against Slovenia and Panama would be a good measuring stick to where the group is at, but he is still chasing wins.

“It’s the official start of our build-up for the Asian Cup,” Montemurro said on Wednesday.

“Yes, I am looking at a lot of players. Yes, I am trying to instil some language. Yes, I am trying to instil some new ideas.

“But you know, the approach to the game is still the same ... it’s a game that we want to win.

AAP

WA Police have just provided some more details on the fatal crash in Perth’s south-east on Wednesday night.

Major Crime Division detective superintendent Gary Saunders.Credit: 9 News Perth

Major Crime Division detective superintendent Gary Saunders said police allegedly attempted to stop a 26-year-old man driving a Nissan Navara in Wattle Grove, and a short chase began.

But due to the “erratic” driving, including on the wrong side of the road, police ended that chase after less than a minute due to the risk being posed to public safety.

Then at the intersection of Tonkin Highway and Hale Road in Forrestfield, the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light and crashed with a blue Ford Falcon, killing the driver and injuring a passenger.

The Nissan then spun out of control, struck a traffic light and then came to rest on top of a stationary police car that was not involved in the prior evade police incident.

No officers were injured.

“This is a very tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends and anyone that’s affected by this devastating crash,” he said.

“Another innocent life has been lost on our roads through the alleged reckless and dangerous acts of another driver.”

Some of Western Australia’s unique reptiles have been rescued from smugglers who were attempting to send them interstate through Perth Airport, and two men have been sentenced in court over the offending.

In one case, a package containing eight live bobtail lizards destined for Sydney was intercepted.

The lizards were bound for Sydney.

When questioned, the 27-year-old man from Mount Lawley who was sending the package said a friend had asked him to collect the lizards from an address in Perth and post them to him.

He was fined $2500.

In another case, 70 reptiles of various kinds were found hidden inside two toolboxes destined for Melbourne.

These animals included five jewelled geckos, 12 pygmy spiney-tailed skinks, 28 Eastern Pilbara spiney-tailed skinks, 22 Western Pilbara spiney-tailed skinks, one crested dragon, and two desert egernia.

A 29-year-old man from West Perth was fined $15,000.

He told the courts that he had been contacted by a person on social media who asked him for help sending him reptile pets to Melbourne.

He indicated he had done this on previous occasions and that he was paid $100 for fuel and his time.

Investigations revealed the reptiles were destined for the illicit wildlife trade.

A magistrate who handed down the $15,000 fine said the offending was “against the community”, who have “an expectation that wildlife … is adequately protected”.

Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn described the behaviour as not only illegal, but disgraceful.

“These cases show it won’t be tolerated and that those found engaging in this cowardly behaviour will be prosecuted,” he said.

DBCA wildlife officers have urged the public to report any suspicious activity involving native animals.

Information can be provided confidentially to the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.

Virgin Australia’s inaugural Perth to Doha flight, in alliance with Qatar Airways, has taken off today, in the midst of a tumultuous time for air travel.

Passengers will travel on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777 aircraft.

Virgin Australia chief executive Dave Emerson the flights marked the beginning of a new era for Virgin Australia and for international travel from Australia.

“We’re opening the world to millions of Australians, delivering more choice, better value and a seamless global experience,” he said.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Badr Mohammed Al-Mee said the partnership was a “culmination of many months of meticulous planning and tireless dedication”.

The announcement comes just days after a Qantas Perth to Paris flight was turned around due to Iranian missile strikes on a US airbase in Qatar.

Fremantle have moved quickly to lock away Murphy Reid, handing the AFL Rising Star contender a two-year contract extension that ties him to the club until the end of 2029.

Reid announced himself as a star of the future when he kicked four goals in four minutes against Geelong during his AFL debut in round one.

The 18-year-old has kicked 16 goals across 14 games this season, and is among the favourites to take out this year’s Rising Star award, along with Brisbane’s Levi Ashcroft and Essendon’s Archie Roberts.

Reid is from Victoria, and had only made one brief visit to Perth before being snared by Fremantle with pick No.17 in the 2024 national draft.

The sunny Perth lifestyle and the rising optimism at Fremantle have killed off the chance for any Melbourne-based clubs to lure Reid home in the coming years.

“I’m loving my time here in Perth,” Reid said.

“It’s a lot more chill, and the lifestyle is great. The weather’s nice, and I can still go down to the beach in winter.

“Freo has been great for me. They’ve let me be myself and let me be confident.”

Reid’s creativity has been a shining light in his debut season, with the teenager already one of the club’s most potent players in setting up others for goals.

AAP

Returning to our earlier post from 8.44am about the Perth Heat leaving the Australian Baseball League – Baseball Australia has since thrown the team a lifeline.

In a statement, it was revealed it would operate the club for the coming season until a new license holder could be found.

Here is their statement:

As a beloved team that has been inspiring local players for many years, we are determined to ensure the Perth Heat remains a formidable team during this transition.

We are committed to delivering a successful ABL in 2025/26 and operating a four-team league for the upcoming season.

The ABL remains a cornerstone of the baseball landscape in Australia, inspiring the next generation to pick up a bat at their local club, providing great experience for fans, and as an essential high-performance pathway for our elite players.

But, we understand that a change to the model is needed.

Considerable effort has gone into addressing the ABL model and making the necessary improvements for the league to truly reach its potential.

The effort has been extensive, deliberate, and aligned with long-term goals, supported by a group of committed licence holders and stakeholders.

Game on.

Turning to the courts now and the three men who killed an Indigenous teenager after a series of violent incidents that started with a suburban love triangle will be sentenced across two days in the Perth courts, starting today.

Jack Brearley (bottom) will be sentenced over the death of Cassius Turvey (top).

Cassius Turvey, 15, died in hospital 10 days after he was chased into bushland and beaten with a metal pole in Perth’s eastern suburbs on October 13, 2022.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 24, and Brodie Lee Palmer, 29, were convicted in May of murdering the Noongar Yamatji boy after a mammoth 12-week trial.

Mitchell Colin Forth, 27, who was also on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court for Cassius’ murder, was found guilty of manslaughter.

The trial heard Brearley delivered the fatal blows while “hunting for kids” because somebody had smashed his car windows.

It was alleged Forth and Palmer aided him, and along with Aleesha Louise Gilmore, 23, who was acquitted of all charges.

AAP

The Perth Heat baseball team has announced it is exiting the national competition.

In a somewhat mysterious statement last night the club said it made the call the exit the Australian Baseball League from the 2025-26 season to secure its future.

It said it hoped to return to the competition in the future.

Here is the statement from Perth Heat Co-owner Christian Galopoulos:

In recent months, the club has actively explored a range of solutions to secure its future, including pursuing Not for Profit status, seeking new investment, and considering a suitable sale.

It has also held preliminary discussions around extending government support, recognising that these processes require time, due diligence, and collaboration.

The government has been a valued partner, and we appreciate their ongoing support, including previous funding that has been vital to our operations.

However, unforeseen developments with the league and changes to the competition format, combined with the timing of these events, created challenges that could not be overcome within the window available

This achievement is a testament to the dedication and resilience of everyone involved with the Perth Heat.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the players, coaches, staff, volunteers, and supporters who have contributed to our journey. Your passion and commitment have been the foundation of our success and the spirit of baseball in Western Australia.

Regrettably these factors left us with no viable alternative that would safeguard the long-term sustainability of the club and baseball in Western Australia.

While we are disappointed not to have brought the Claxton Shield back to WA, we are proud to have maintained the ballclub’s competitive legacy—making the ABL Championship Series for four consecutive seasons and five of the last six, as well as qualifying for the finals every season during this period.