By Isabel Vieira | posted on February 18, 2021
THE Great Southern has had the worst start to a year for road fatalities in over a decade following the death of a Denmark teenager on Sunday morning.
Family and friends are mourning the death of 19-year-old Pierre Kelson after his Holden Commodore collided with a tree on Scotsdale Road at about 6am.
The teenager was the driver and only occupant of the vehicle and died of his injuries at the scene.
In a commemorative Facebook status, Pierre’s sister Josephine Rivka Kelson said she couldn’t imagine life without her baby brother.
“I cannot put into words how devastating and tragic this loss is to my family and I,” she said.
“Our little dreamer was taken far too soon.”
Seven people have been killed on Great Southern roads this year.
Five of the fatal crashes involved drivers running off the road and colliding with a stationary object.
WA Road Safety Commissioner Adrian Warner said regional areas continued to be overrepresented in the number of people killed on WA roads.
“It’s been a difficult start to the year and my thoughts are with all of those people who have lost loved ones in the Great Southern region,” he said.
“My thoughts are also with the emergency services who have to respond to these crashes and see the trauma of a road crash first-hand.
“Factors such as fatigue, inattention and speed continue to be prevalent in road trauma and these are things we have conscious choices over when we get behind the wheel.”
Great Southern Police Superintendent Ian Clarke said people needed to help keep each other safe by questioning whether friends were fit to drive.
“Making that decision to drive is really significant and that’s where families and friends need to question the person considering driving, especially if they know that that person is really tired,” he said.
“They should question their decision, in saying is that really a good idea?”
Denmark Police Sergeant Matt Hartfield said for the most part, young people are doing the right thing behind the wheel.
“It’s a timely reminder that you need to drive to the conditions and if you’re fatigued or if you’ve had any alcohol or other substance, make sure that you get plenty of sleep and recover from that before you drive,” he said.
Major Crash Investigators and local authorities are investigating the incident.
Denmark Police have confirmed the driver attended a party the night before and are urging anyone with information about the party or the crash to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
