British tourist killed in taxi crash with stolen car

Published on 20/10/2012 00:51

A BRITISH tourist has died after the taxi he was in was involved in a crash with an alleged stolen car in Australia.

The crash, which left the passenger and the taxi driver dead, is said to have happened less than an hour after the Briton ­arrived in Perth.

He had been collected from the airport by the taxi shortly before it was involved in the crash with the four-wheel-drive, which had earlier been pursued by police.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are in touch with local authorities and offering next of kin consular support during this difficult time.”

Both the British man, reported to be 36 and a doctor visiting the city for a conference, and the taxi driver are said to have died at the scene.

The crash is said to have happened when the Toyota four-wheel-drive allegedly ran through a red light.

Assistant police commissioner Gary Budge said a police chase of the stolen vehicle had been called off some time earlier.

He said: “This pursuit was aborted on Canning Highway in Victoria Park when the helicopter reported the vehicle had its headlights turned off.”

The 23-year-old driver of the vehicle, who is in hospital in Perth, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter.