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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Five dead in 24 hours on WA roads as toll climbs

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Five people died in separate car crashes across Western Australia in less than 24 hours, contributing to a soaring road toll.
  • Fatalities occurred in Wuraming, Cape Burney, Martin, and Mount Anketell, involving single-vehicle crashes and a head-on collision.
  • The state's road toll has reached 126 deaths this year, exceeding the same period in previous years, prompting calls for increased public caution.

Western Australia has recorded five road fatalities in under 24 hours, marking a grim continuation of the state's escalating road toll. The latest deaths occurred in separate incidents across the state, involving crashes into trees and a head-on collision.

As a state government we've spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to improve our roads … but we also need the public to get on board.

— Simone McGurkWA Minister urging the public to take responsibility for road safety after a spate of fatalities.

The first fatality happened Friday afternoon near Boddington when a driver died after his car hit a tree. Minutes later, another man died in a similar crash near Geraldton. Friday night saw a passenger killed in a collision in Martin, south-east of Perth. Early Saturday morning, investigators responded to a crash in Mount Anketell, Karratha, where two people are believed to have died in a head-on collision that caused one vehicle to catch fire.

I don't know the exact circumstances of these fatalities. I just urge people to think about fatigue, seatbelt, speed, distraction and also alcohol and other drugs.

— Simone McGurkWA Minister advising drivers on crucial safety measures.

With 126 road deaths so far this year, WA's toll is higher than in the same periods of 2025 and 2024. WA Minister Simone McGurk urged the public to prioritize road safety, emphasizing the need for drivers to be mindful of fatigue, speed, seatbelt use, distractions, and the influence of alcohol and drugs. "Please take care on our roads because the price of not being careful can be just too much," she stated. Insurer RAC predicts the state's yearly road toll could exceed 200 deaths, noting that WA has the second-highest road death toll nationally per capita.

Please take care on our roads because the price of not being careful can be just too much.

— Simone McGurkWA Minister emphasizing the severe consequences of neglecting road safety.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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