A family visit to Perth has ended in devastating tragedy after a grandmother from Nepal was killed when a car slammed into the home where she was sleeping in the city’s inner east.
Bishnu Kumari Gurung, also known as Himali, 53, died late on Friday night when a yellow Ford Falcon left Alexander Road in Rivervale and crashed into the rental property shortly before midnight. Police said the vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the road, mounted a driveway, smashed through a fence and ploughed into the house.
Ms Gurung was asleep in the front room of her daughter and son-in-law’s home at the time. She became trapped beneath the wreckage and died at the scene. CCTV footage from the property shows the moment of impact, with sparks flying as the car tore through the bedroom.
Neighbours rushed outside after hearing what one described as a “big bang”. Local resident Ali Currimbhoy said the impact was so loud he initially thought “a plane had dropped on top” of his roof.
Emergency services soon flooded the street, with police, ambulances and fire crews blocking off the road as SES teams worked to stabilise the damaged home.
The alleged driver, a 36-year-old man from Kewdale, and his 43-year-old passenger were not injured. The driver was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with manslaughter and criminal damage or destruction of property. He was denied bail and is due to face Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday. Major Crash Investigation officers are continuing to examine the moments leading up to the collision.
Ms Gurung had arrived in Australia only months earlier with her husband to visit family. On Saturday, relatives gathered outside the shattered home, struggling to come to terms with their sudden loss.
Family and friends have remembered her as a warm, loving and deeply generous woman. A family member described her as “the heart and soul of our family, our greatest source of strength, comfort and laughter”. Another said she would always be remembered for her kindness, charm and unwavering smile.
A GoFundMe page has been launched in her honour to help cover funeral expenses and support the family through what they describe as overwhelming emotional, psychological and financial hardship. Her daughter, Srijana Gurung, said the donations would help the family adjust to life without her mother’s “love and presence” during a time of immense grief.
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