Updated ,first published
A rideshare driver has been charged over allegedly driving dangerously, resulting in the death of a seven-month-old baby and injuries to a toddler and her mother in Perth’s south-east on Saturday morning.
The 35-year-old man was driving along Nicholson Road in Lynwood around 3.40am, when CCTV footage appears to show the vehicle colliding with a bus stop before coming to a stop after crashing into a tree.
The three-year-old child was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital with serious injuries while the mother, a 32-year-old woman, and the baby were both rushed to Fiona Stanley Hospital also with serious injuries.
The baby died in hospital.
The driver received minor injuries in the crash.
WA Police have since charged the Caversham man with dangerous driving occasioning death and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm.
He is due to appear before the Armadale Magistrates Court on April 20.
Witness Chadni Sard told 9News Perth she had heard a loud noise, and her husband had rushed out to see what had happened.
“She (the mother) was crying out ‘my baby’s not breathing, my baby’s not breathing, please help us’,” she said.
Other witnesses tried to help the family, and were giving the baby CPR in an effort to save them.
Police are investigating the incident including whether the children had been secured in booster seats, which is not a legal requirement for taxis or rideshares in WA.
Major Crash investigators are urging anyone who saw the crash, or who saw the silver Toyota Kluger travelling in the area before the crash, to contact Crime Stoppers
Anyone with dash-cam or mobile phone vision relating to this crash, can upload the vision directly to investigators.
Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.