September 12, 2025

Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving cars, motorcycles, trucks, busses, cyclists and trams throughout Australia to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for drivers, riders, passengers, pedestrians. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of road accident compensation claims.

Case Overview
An 81-year-old woman remains in hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a van while using a zebra crossing on Albany Highway in the city centre on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The victim, who was on a mobility scooter, was briefly trapped beneath the vehicle before being freed by emergency crews. She was flown to Perth for treatment.

The driver of the van, a 64-year-old man from New South Wales, has been charged with careless driving causing grievous bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear in the Albany Magistrates Court on October 9, 2025.

“They’re on a pedestrian crossing, you have to give way. There is no grey in this area, it’s black and white.” — Harold Scruby, Pedestrian Council of Australia

Court Details

  • Hearing Date: Thursday, 9 October 2025
  • Court: Albany Magistrates Court, Western Australia
  • Defendant: 64-year-old man from New South Wales
  • Status: Charged with careless driving causing grievous bodily harm

Charges

  • Careless driving causing grievous bodily harm

Background to Offence

  • The crash occurred on Albany Highway at a raised, well-lit zebra crossing in the CBD just after 2:00 pm on September 10, 2025.
  • An 81-year-old woman on a mobility scooter was struck by a van and trapped beneath the vehicle.
  • Emergency services freed her and transported her first to Albany Hospital, before she was flown to Perth for specialist care.
  • WA Police Major Crash Squad attended and later charged the driver.

Victim Impact
The injured grandmother suffered severe lower-body injuries and remains in critical care. The incident has prompted renewed calls for better pedestrian protections in Albany, especially for vulnerable mobility scooter users.

Community Impact
Locals, road safety experts, and the Pedestrian Council of Australia have called for reduced speed limits near pedestrian crossings, citing the rising pedestrian death toll in Western Australia. Business owners and residents report repeated near misses at the same crossing, with concerns that drivers routinely fail to give way to pedestrians.

Next Steps
The case is scheduled for mention in the Albany Magistrates Court on October 9, 2025. Advocacy groups are expected to lobby for reforms including lowering crossing speed limits to 30 km/h and strengthening enforcement of pedestrian priority laws.