A pedestrian is dead after he was hit by a car allegedly being driven erratically by a knife-wielding man who had two small children in his vehicle.
Western Australian Police were called to reports of a man driving erratically in a silver Holden Commodore in Bayswater in Perth’s east about 11am on Tuesday.
The Commodore collided with a Ford Ranger and drove away before allegedly hitting a 52-year-old man a short time later on Rose Avenue.
The critically injured pedestrian was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he died a short time later.
Police arrested the driver near the scene of the fatal crash a short time later after he allegedly crashed into a set of traffic lights.
Two young children were found in the backseat, who were unharmed.
A man in his 30s is currently in police custody and is undergoing medical examination. No charges have yet been laid
WA Police Inspector Jason Van Der Ende told media that the driver was allegedly involved in a series of alarming incidents leading up to the fatal collision.
Witnesses reported seeing a man allegedly armed with a knife halting traffic and acting erratically in Perth’s east on Tuesday
A man has died after a Holden Commodore ploughed into him in Bayswater. The driver was arrest a short time later after he allegedly crashed into a set of traffic lights
The knife-wielding driver allegedly slashed the tyres of another vehicle and threatened to kill witnesses
‘It is believed the driver of the silver Commodore was seen acting erratically in the area, potentially armed with a knife,’ he said.
‘This is a traumatic incident for all people involved, but I want to reassure the community that we have the incident fully contained.’
Major Crime Division detectives are still piecing together the timeline of events leading up to the fatality.
Witnesses reported seeing a man violently intimidating drivers in a chaotic episode on the streets of Perth on Tuesday morning.
One witness recounted how the man targeted a Ford Ranger, slashing all four tyres while its driver took refuge inside.
‘The guy in the silver Commodore got out with a machete and started threatening to kill him,’ the witness told 7News.
A man in his 30s is currently in police custody and is undergoing medical examination
A man was taken into custody and two children were left in the backseat of a crashed sedan
Witnesses reported seeing the man threaten drivers and shouting incoherently in the street
‘He’s banging the machete on the driver’s window. He went around and stabbed all four tyres so he couldn’t leave.’
Nearby tradesmen reportedly armed themselves with bricks to ward off the driver.
Another witness claimed the man also stopped traffic on Skew Road allegedly blocking vehicles with his car before confronting drivers.
‘He stopped myself and another car by driving head-on toward the car in front of me, luckily, they stopped before he hit them,’ she told WAtoday.
‘Then he got out, yelling and banging on our cars, shouting that he was going to run us over.’
The witness said the driver appeared agitated and confused.
‘He was shouting things like, ‘I’m looking for my dad, where is he?’ It was very scary.’
Authorities are urging anyone with information or dashcam footage of the incident to come forward as investigations continue.
