In a harrowing incident, a young mother and her newborn narrowly avoided a head-on collision during a police pursuit in Perth, triggered by an alleged machete attack by the pursued individual.
The dramatic event unfolded when police were in pursuit of a white Commodore reportedly speeding on the wrong side of James Street in Guildford yesterday afternoon. The pursued vehicle collided with a Mazda CX3, then clipped a Mitsubishi Outlander before ultimately crashing head-on into a Hyundai Tucson, where the mother in her 20s and her eight-week-old baby were seated.
Brandon Lee Kelly, the alleged driver, and a 22-year-old woman were swiftly apprehended by the police following the crash. Commissioner Col Blanch acknowledged the high-risk nature of the pursuit, expressing support for the officers while extending sympathy to the innocent motorist caught up in the incident.
Commissioner Blanch stated, “She went on the wrong side of the road; they had a head-on crash with a lady in her 20s with an eight-week-old baby in the car. It’s a high-risk maneuver, but I support the officers who’ve made that decision, but also our thoughts and hearts go out to the innocent motorist who was caught up in it.”
The 35-year-old woman and her infant were transported to the hospital, with the mother spending the night for observation, while the newborn was sent home with relatives.
The police revealed that methamphetamine was allegedly found in the offender’s car. The occupants of the pursued Commodore sustained multiple broken bones. Fortunately, a 31-year-old woman and her three children under six in the Mitsubishi involved in the collision emerged unharmed.
The pursuit originated from an alleged machete attack earlier in the day, where Kelly reportedly invaded a home in Butler, assaulting a 30-year-old woman. The victim sustained a cut and bleeding to the back of her head, prompting a police search for Kelly, who had been wanted for two months following an alleged car theft in Hammond Park.
Both Kelly and the alleged driver are currently under police guard in the hospital, with multiple charges laid against them, including aggravated home burglary, unlawful wounding, and drug possession for Kelly. The driver faces charges, including breach of bail, driving offenses, and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. The incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in balancing public safety during pursuits while minimizing risks to innocent bystanders.
