WA Police have expressed frustration that the safety campaign to stem the state’s rising road toll is “not getting through” after the death of another young driver in Perth’s south-east.
A 22-year-old male died after the orange Holden Commodore ute he was driving west at speed on Thomas Road in Oakford clipped the rear of an oversized truck travelling in a convoy in the opposite direction about 6.40am on Saturday.
The driver lost control of the vehicle before colliding with a white Ford Ranger utility, the rear pilot vehicle that had been escorting the truck.
The 22-year-old man sustained critical injuries and was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he later died.
The 75-year-old male driver of the pilot vehicle sustained serious injuries and was conveyed to hospital.
The 20-year-old male driver of a Ford Falcon sedan that had been travelling alongside the ute after a preliminary breath test returned a positive result. On Sunday, police charged him with dangerous driving causing both grievous bodily harm and death in circumstances of aggravation.
Road Policing commander Mike Bell outside WA Police headquarters on Saturday.Credit: Jesinta Burton.
In a press conference outside WA Police headquarters on Saturday, Road Policing commander Mike Bell said the fatal crash would have a ripple effect throughout the community and was evidence some drivers were still not heeding the road safety message.
“Here we are, another Saturday morning, and I’m standing before you because another young man has died on our roads. It’s tragic, it has a ripple effect. There is a grieving family, friends and community,” he said.
“The message just doesn’t seem to be getting through. Speed, fatigue, impairments, distractions and restraints are all over-represented in fatal crashes.”
Jady Turner is being remembered by friends as “an amazing person” who was “an idol for many people” and will be “missed by everybody”.Credit: Nine News/Supplied
Bell confirmed he had viewed footage of the incident, but said it was too graphic to be released publicly.
The state’s Road Safety Commission has bolstered its campaign as 2024 shapes up to be one of the worst year’s on WA roads in a decade, with the 157 fatalities recorded this year on track to exceed the 159 recorded in 2016.
But Bell called on the parents of young drivers to aid the efforts of police, particularly those with young males — who are over-represented in road accident statistics.
“It is just shattering to watch that and know that there is a 22-year-old male in that vehicle seconds before he is dead. Anybody on the road network needs to listen to this message, slow down, drive to the rules and the conditions and drive to survive,” he said.
“We’re doing all the enforcement we can, but we don’t have a crystal ball, and if we did, we would have been out there at 6.35am this morning.
An orange Holden resembled a mangled wreck after a crash in Oakford, Perth in the early hours of Saturday morning.Credit: Nine News
“But again I come back to parents sitting down with their young drivers, particularly male drivers, and telling them they’re not bulletproof, they will become the next statistic, they will be going in a body bag if they drive this dangerously.
“This was completely avoidable, completely avoidable.”
Major Crash investigators are urging anyone with information relating to the crash or dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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