The parents of a British backpacker accused of ‘killing a pedestrian after ploughing into him while riding an e-scooter drunk’ have flown to Australia to support their daughter.
Alicia Kemp, 24, a psychology graduate from Redditch, Worcestershire, was arrested and charged with riding the e-scooter on a footpath that fatally knocked down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan, 51.
The father-of-two later died in hospital of brain injuries following the tragedy which occurred on May 31.
Now, Kemp’s anxious parents have flown to Australia to be with their daughter who is charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, the Times has reported.
It comes shortly after the young backpacker was told that she could not be bailed out as she posed too great a flight risk.
Kemp, who could face up to 20 years in prison, had been travelling through southeast Asia and Australia with her boyfriend on a four-month tourist visa. At the time of the tragic crash, she had been working at Durty Nelly’s Irish pub.
Describing herself on Linkedin as a digital nomad, Kemp had said that she was taking a ‘career break’ in order to travel and had also taken to social media platform TikTok to document the experience.
Alicia Kemp, 24, (pictured) who was arrested and charged with fatally knocking down engineer Thanh Phan, 51, while riding an e-scooter
Kemp(pictured) has been documenting her travels around southeast Asia on her TikTok
Phan (pictured) died in hospital of brain injuries following the tragedy on May 31
Kemp added to the social media platform: ‘I aim to immerse myself within the different cultures Asia has to offer.
‘This includes working as an English second language teacher in Vietnam, in both public and private schools.’
Kemp hired an e-scooter at around 8.30pm on Saturday May 31. Police told the court that she was the main driver, while her friend was a passenger.
Phan was hit in the back by the scooter travelling at a speed at 15mph which prosecutors said ‘careered’ into his back, causing him to fall forward and hit his head.
Immediately taken to the Royal Perth Hospital for surgery, Phan suffered a ‘significant brain bleed’ and died on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Kemp’s friend, aged 26 and who has not yet been identified, suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.
In a heartbreaking statement given following Phan’s death, his family paid tribute to a ‘beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend’.
The statement added: ‘We received the heartbreaking news that Thanh passed away as a result of his injuries.
Phan (pictured) was described as a ‘beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend’
Kemp had been working at Durty Nelly’s Irish pub (pictured) at the time of the crash
Kemp (pictured) hired an e-scooter at around 8.30pm on Saturday May 31. Police told the court that she was the main driver, while her friend was a passenger
The psychology graduate (pictured) from Redditch, Worcestershire, describes herself on Linkedin as a digital nomad
‘We ask that the media respect the privacy of Thanh’s family as they grieve their loss.
‘The family has no other comment to make on the issue at this time.’
The magistrate said that the significant prospect of a long prison sentence if Kemp were to be convicted means that there was a risk of her ‘not returning to court to answer the charges’.
They added: ‘The temptation might be that (she) won’t return. I can’t manage that risk’.
Kemp, who remains in custody, is set to appear before the court again on July 15.
