A New Zealand truck driver living in Western Australia has been charged with several counts of dangerous driving.
Carl Bridge, who is living in Australia without a passport, allegedly ploughed into a parked Holden Commodore on the Brookton-Corrigin Rd near Bulyee.
A mother and her 10-year-old son died at the scene and three other children were rushed to a Perth hospital after a semi-trailer slammed into their broken-down car.
About midnight on Sunday, a Holden Commodore towing a trailer ran out of petrol on Brookton-Corrigin Rd, about two hours east of Perth.
A 27-year-old man left the car with his partner and four children inside, and started walking the 28km to Corrigin to find a petrol station.
News.com.au says it understands the family are locals and live in Corrigin.
Bridge was charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm, 9News reports.
The 26-year-old mother and the four children were sitting in the car waiting for their father to return when a truck ploughed into the back of the vehicle.
West Australian Police said the 46-year-old driver was towing grain trailers when he rounded a bend and crashed into the car and trailer.
The impact shunted the Commodore into a nearby paddock, killing the mother and her 10-year-old son.
Two boys aged 8 and 5 were also seriously injured and a 3-year-old girl was treated for minor injuries.
All three were flown to Perth Children's Hospital and a spokesman said all three were in a serious but stable condition.
The father was found by police walking along Brookton-Corrigin Rd. He was 11km west of Corrigin.
Bridge was granted bail for $10,000 at Perth Magistrates Court under the condition he cannot leave Western Australia or go within 1km of a designated departure point, 9news reports.
The case was adjourned and Bridge is expected to reappear in court on September 18.
