It is being reported that divorced father-of-two Shaun Southern is the man who deliberately drove on the wrong side of the road and fatally collided with another vehicle on Bussell Highway in Western Australia on Saturday afternoon.
According to 7 News, Southern had been living alone in a caravan park on the outskirts of Bunbury, and, as The Daily Mail report, had fallen on hard financial times.
Disturbing footage, caught by an understandably worried bystander, shows a green Toyota LandCruiser swerving unpredictably onto oncoming traffic until it finally collides with a white Rav4.
The driver of the Rav4, 61-year-old mother-of-two Jenni Pratt, died at the scene and her 54-year-old female passenger, Karen Williams, was pulled from the vehicle with life-threatening injuries and remains in a critical condition.
Ms Pratt’s family are devastated by their loss, stating: “Mum’s brightness, beautiful smile and the way she listened and cared, meant that so many people lived and relied on her as a companion, someone to confide in and a true friend.”
Dan Mateljan, who filmed the driver, can be heard saying, “This dude is trying to kill someone for sure,” before calling the police. Just seconds later, a man believed to be Southern crashed head-on with the oncoming car.
Source: Facebook
The man said to be Southern was sent flying through the windscreen with a huge about of debris before the vehicle bursts in flames. Passers-by are then caught on film towing the Rav4 away from the fire as the man lies in the middle of the road.
“Completely erratic, there was no explanation for it. He was physically driving his vehicle off-road to take out signs and then veering into the oncoming traffic to then deliberately have a head-on collision,” said Mr Mateljan.
A motorist who was run off the road by the erratic driver told Nine News he appeared to be “happy” and “going nuts” in the car.
Source: Sky News
“The guy’s face was unbelievable, like I’ve never seen before,” Jake Mangini said.
“He was jumping around in his car and going nuts like he was happy about what he had actually done.”
Southern remains in intensive care following the deadly crash, and as 7 News report, detectives are investigating whether he can be charged with murder or manslaughter.
Police want to speak to anyone else who saw the crash, or witnessed the Toyota LandCruiser before the accident at Layman Road, Busselton, Wonnerup Beach, Busselton, or Bussell Highway from Busselton to the Capel Drive intersection.
