WA News

Capel carnage: Woman killed as erratic car swerves across of Bussell Highway

A man has captured the terrifying minutes an erratic vehicle crossed on to the wrong side of Bussell Highway in Western Australia and fatally collided with another vehicle.

The disturbing footage, showing a green Toyota LandCruiser swerving into oncoming traffic on the busy South West Highway near Capel, was captured by Dan Mateljan as he travelled with two friends in a car behind the 4WD about 4.47pm Saturday.

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Erratic driver causes fatal crash in WA

A 45-year-old male driver was filmed driving dangerously, before he deliberately swerved into oncoming traffic on the Bussell Highway on Sunday. Vision: Seven News/Sunrise

Jenni Pratt, 61, died at the scene after her Rav4 collided with the LandCruiser, with Mr Mateljan and his friends running to the scene after witnessing the head-on collision.

Up to 20 vehicles were forced into ditches during the horrifying incident, which lasted several minutes. 

"This dude is trying to kill someone for sure," Mr Mateljan can be heard saying on the footage.

Mr Mateljan called police after first seeing the vehicle driving erratically on the wrong side of the highway, but, just seconds later, the 45-year-old male driver crashed head-on with the woman's car.

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He was sent flying through the windscreen, with debris scattered dangerously across the busy highway before his LandCruiser caught fire, causing witnesses and motorists to stop and rush to help.

The 54-year-old female passenger in the Rav4 was pulled from the vehicle with life-threatening injuries. She was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.

Friends on Facebook paid tribute to Ms Pratt, remembering her as a loving mother who lived life to the fullest.

'She touched our hearts with her infectious smile and giggle," one friend said.

"Such a bubbly happy soul. RIP beautiful Jen," another wrote.

"Jenni was always the most beautiful soul. She loved life and loved her family fiercely.. So so sad to hear this news." 

Mr Mateljan told Nine News the man went through the windscreen of the LandCruiser, and said "he was lying right in the middle of the road."

"Completely erratic, there was no explanation for it," Mr Mateljan told Nine News. 

"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."

One motorist who was run off the road by the erratic vehicle told Nine News the driver appeared to be "happy" and "going nuts" in the car.

"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."

The man sustained critical injuries in the crash and was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.

Police want to speak to anyone else who saw the crash or the Toyota LandCruiser before the accident at Wonnerup Beach, Busselton; Layman Road, Busselton or Bussell Highway from Busselton to the Capel Drive intersection.

The stretch of Bussell Highway at Capel was just days ago named as one of the state's most dangerous roads. The highway, which has a speed limit of 110km/h, changes from a dual carriageway to a narrow single-lane road, with no overtaking lane for several kilometres.

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