A 67-year-old pedestrian struck and killed by a driver in Perth has been identified as an award-winning novelist and university professor.
Dr Brenda Walker was crossing Kings Park Road at Kings Park, about 800 metres away from her home, when she was hit by a car yesterday morning.
She was thrown about 40 metres and died in hospital a short time later.
The alleged driver, a 30-year-old man, was charged with aggravated dangerous driving causing death.
Perth Magistrates Court was today told he was allegedly driving erratically ahead of the crash.
He allegedly weaved in and out of traffic and sped up to 104km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
His car was allegedly travelling at 97km/h at the time of the crash.
Walker was an author whose work won her numerous awards including the Victorian Premier’s Award for non-fiction and an O. Henry Prize.
Her pieces have been published around the world.
She also worked as a professor at the University of Western Australia.
Walker’s family told 9News they are “devastated” by her loss, adding that “she was a kind, intelligent, caring and generous person who had a positive effect on many lives”.
The 30-year-old will remain behind bars until he fronts court again next month.
