A driver has been arrested after he allegedly killed a pedestrian and terrorised other people across Perth while he had two young children in the back seat of his car.
WA Police Inspector Jason Van Der Ende said police were sent to Bayswater about 11am to search for a man in a silver Holden Commodore who witnesses reported was “acting erratically” and was “potentially armed with a knife”.
The man was allegedly pacing and pointing the large weapon at young father Esmat Raz, who was inside his Ford Ranger holding onto his door and fearing for his life.
He had nowhere to go as his tyres were allegedly slashed.
“Two, three times they open my door. I try [to] close back and I got a video as well and he smashed my car,” he told 9News.
“Very scary. I didn’t get out of my car until he ran away and I got a video and plate number.”
Raz’s alleged attacker then sped away from Skew Road in Bayswater.
“He was threatening ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you’ over and over,” witness Wayne Small said.
“I really believe if he had got to that guy, he would’ve stuck a machete in him. He was that, he was absolutely psycho.”
The man then headed down Beechboro Road, where he allegedly targeted a bunch of tradies.
“He pull up with a knife from his car, jump out of the car with a knife, changed his mind … and he took off,” another witness said.
About 500 metres away, the silver Commodore allegedly struck a man walking outside the Bayswater Hotel on Railway Parade.
“It is during this time that we understand there was an incident between the driver of the silver Commodore and another person who was struck by the vehicle,” Van Der Ende said.
The 52-year-old man received first aid from police and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The alleged driver of the silver Commodore, a man aged in his 30s, was arrested and was being medically examined.
No charges have been laid.
Two young children were pulled from the car and were unharmed.
Van Der Ende said police were working to establish the full circumstances of the alleged incident, including whether the Commodore “collided with several other vehicles prior to this incident”.
“However, we’re still working to establish a complete timeline of the events,” he said.
“This is a traumatic incident for all people involved, but I want to reassure the community that the incident is fully contained.
“This matter is complex and will take some time to fully investigate.”
Police are searching for witnesses and dash cam footage as their investigation continues.
