Tragedy Strikes During Easter Long Weekend
An 11-year-old boy has died after being hit while riding his push scooter in Mandurah, marking a tragic end to a series of fatalities across the Easter long weekend. The incident has left the community in shock and raised concerns about road safety during peak travel periods.
Emergency services responded to reports that a scooter had collided with a blue Mazda station wagon on Mandurah Terrace near Stewart Street at around 5:10 pm on Monday. The young scooter rider sustained critical injuries and was taken to Peel Health Campus, where he later passed away. The 46-year-old driver of the Mazda stopped at the scene and assisted police with their investigation.
This incident was one of five deaths that occurred over the long-weekend period, from Thursday evening to Monday night. The toll has sparked a broader conversation about road safety, especially as the number of fatalities continues to rise.
A Week of Tragedies
On April 2, two deadly incidents occurred in the Perth Hills region just five minutes apart, while a third occurred later that night in Derby in the state’s north. These events have highlighted the dangers of road travel, particularly in rural and regional areas.
At about 4:25 pm, a silver Ford F-150 utility vehicle collided with an off-road motorbike on Albany Highway, between Admiral and Narbethong roads in Bedfordale. The motorbike rider, a 14-year-old boy, died at the scene, while the 19-year-old ute driver was not injured.
Only five minutes later and 20 kilometres north, a 30-year-old man crashed his Harley Davidson motorcycle while traveling south along Kingsbury Drive in Jarrahdale. He also died at the scene.
Five hours later in Derby, an 18-year-old woman died after the 4WD she was a passenger in with three other people rolled. At 9:45 pm, their white Nissan Patrol rolled on the mudflats alongside Rowan Street. Two 17-year-old male passengers and the 19-year-old male driver escaped injury. The driver helped police with their investigation.
Additional Fatalities
Just after midnight on Monday, emergency services attended a crash scene in Como. A red Ford Falcon sedan hit a tree on Hayman Road. The sedan was driving on Hayman Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, left the road, and crashed into a tree. The 35-year-old male passenger was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with critical injuries, where he later died. The 45-year-old male driver was also taken to RPH with serious injuries.
These latest fatalities bring the state’s road toll to 50 for the year. The increase in road-related deaths has prompted calls for action from local officials and road safety advocates.
Concerns Over Rising Road Fatalities
Opposition road safety minister Julie Freeman expressed her deep concern over the Easter long-weekend, calling it “marked by tragedy.” She emphasized the impact of each loss, stating:
“Every life lost on our roads is one too many, and behind every statistic is a devastated family and a community changed forever.”
Freeman added that Easter should be a time for reflection and connection, but for many Western Australians, it has become a time marked by tragedy.
She highlighted the growing number of motorcycle-related deaths and injuries as a particular concern. “Motorcyclists are among our most vulnerable road users, and we are seeing them increasingly represented in serious crashes, especially on regional roads and in recreational settings.”
The rise in trail bikes and e-motorbikes, particularly among younger riders, adds another layer of risk that cannot be ignored.
Looking Ahead
With the number of road fatalities increasing, there is a growing need for improved road safety measures, especially in high-risk areas. As communities mourn the loss of lives, the focus must shift toward preventing future tragedies through education, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements.
