A 22-year-old man has died after being struck by a car in an alleged hit-and-run on the Mitchell Freeway in Perth's northern suburbs. The incident occurred around 7:20pm on Sunday in the freeway's northbound lanes between Hepburn Avenue and Whitfords Avenue in Padbury.
Police allege that Michael Brendan Kane, 30, from Iluka in Perth's north, was driving a Toyota Corolla that struck the man and left the scene. Kane later reported to Joondalup Police Station and was arrested. He faced Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday and was remanded in custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for July.
Kane has been charged with failing to stop and ensure assistance after an incident occasioning death, and failing to report an incident occasioning death or grievous bodily harm to police. The Mitchell Freeway remained closed northbound between Hepburn Avenue and Whitfords Avenue during Monday morning peak hour, causing heavy traffic congestion before reopening around 9am.
The man's death comes after four people died in three separate accidents in regional Western Australia over the weekend. A 30-year-old passenger was killed in a car rollover in Jingalup early Saturday, and a 21-year-old woman died when her car crashed into a tree in East Pingelly later that day. On Sunday, a 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl died after their car hit a tree in Dandaragan.
WA Police South West Superintendent Paul Van Noort noted that the road toll remains too high, with 18 deaths in the South West region this year. He urged the public to drive safely, comparing the loss to the size of an AFL football team. Anyone with information or footage relating to the hit-and-run is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
