Fatal Leach Highway crash driver ‘deliberately drove wrong way’: police

Four people have died after a horror crash along Leach Highway near Perth Airport on Monday morning which shut down the major road in both directions.

Meanwhile, a cyclist died in a separate crash in Bibra Lake. The incidents have been described by police as an “incredibly tragic” start to 2025.

Emergency services were called to the scene on Leach Highway about 3.40am after a collision between a taxi and a Toyota RAV4 that police said was deliberately being driven on the wrong side of the highway near Abernethy Road in Cloverdale.

The 58-year-old taxi driver and his two passengers – a 56-year-old woman and her 81-year-old mother – died at the scene, alongside the driver of the RAV4.

The RAV4 also caught fire during the incident and the identity of the driver is not yet known.

Major Crash Detective Senior Sergeant Hugh Le Tessier said the RAV4 had driven up an off-ramp, and started heading north while in the southbound lanes of the highway.

Police at the scene of the fatal crash on Leach Highway near Perth Airport on Monday. Credit: 9News Perth

Le Tessier said files from the dash-cam on the car showed the RAV4 was driving through Belmont and Cloverdale before the crash “well in excess of the posted speed limit”.

“At this stage we believe the driver of the RAV4 has made a conscious decision to drive on the incorrect side of Leach Highway,” he said.

“A number of motorists saw this occur, or certainly saw the aftermath, and I’m aware that a number of those passers-by stopped to render assistance.

“It’s just such a tragic event … there are four families that have been severely impacted by this, and it’s extremely sad.

“It’s almost the most horrific incident you could attend as a police officer in a road crash scenario – very confronting.”

Police Minister Paul Papalia said it was a shocking incident.

“It’s pretty obvious it’s not a normal practice to drive on the wrong side of the road at high speed towards other vehicles,” he said.

It was one of two major crashes in Perth’s southern suburbs on Monday morning which led to major road closures and delays.

Leach Highway was closed in both directions between Tonkin Highway and Orrong Road, but reopened at 10.20am.

Police were called to a separate incident at 4.30am after a rubbish truck and cyclist collided at the intersection of Spearwood Avenue and Howson Way in Bibra Lake.

The 59-year-old cyclist died at the scene.

Major crash investigators are appealing for any witnesses to either incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report the information online at crimestopperswa.com.au.

Le Tessier said the fact the incidents both occurred early in the morning highlighted the importance of road safety to “everyone, everywhere, all the time”.

“Last year finished very badly from a road toll point of view. This year hasn’t started very well, the last 24 hours have been very traumatic for a lot of people.

“You really have to be so cognisant of where you’re driving, the manner of driving, of other road users, everything that’s going on around you.”