Muhammed Usman: Injured driver in Dalkeith tragedy breaks silence day after Rhys Bellinge imprisoned

The seriously injured rideshare driver, who narrowly survived the Dalkeith horror smash, has broken his silence for the first time on the incident that has seen a doctor charged with manslaughter.

Muhammed Usman, 25, praised paramedics and hospital staff for looking after him.

“I am still struggling to comprehend what happened last Saturday night and my thoughts are with Elizabeth Pearce’s family,” he said in a short statement issued late Friday.

“Thank you to the first responders and the staff at RPH for looking after me with such great care and understanding.”

“I am aware of the interest in the case but would appreciate if my privacy can please be respected as I focus on my recovery,” he added.

Mr Usman broke both his legs and an arm in the horror smash on Birdwood Parade, Dalkeith about 10.15 pm on Saturday.

He had just picked up Ms Pearce when his Honda Jazz was allegedly struck head-on by a Jaguar driven by obstetrician Rhys Bellinge.

Ms Pearce, 24, died from her injuries at Royal Perth Hospital later that night.

Mr Usman was moved out of intensive care on Wednesday after waking from his coma. He remained in a serious but stable condition at RPH.

The Pakistan-born driver had just completed his studies and was about to embark on a new job. He has no family in Australia but has been visited by friends.

Dr Bellinge, 45, was charged with manslaughter and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm in circumstances of aggravation following the crash.

Police prosecutors said he was “accelerating” and “aggressively” speeding, reaching 130km/h, while being almost four times over the legal drink-drive limit prior to the fatal impact.

He allegedly had a blood alcohol reading of 0.183 at the time of the head-on crash. The legal limit is 0.05. The speed limit on Birdman Parade is 50km/h.

Dr Bellinge was driving from the Nedlands home of his estranged wife Juli to his father’s mansion on Jutland Parade, Dalkeith — just 1.5km away — when his Jaguar allegedly hit a kerb and lost control, veering onto the wrong side of the road, crashing into a Honda Jazz.

Dr Bellinge, from one of WA’s richest families, was remanded in custody after his bail application was refused by Magistrate Clare Cullen on Wednesday.

The magistrate decided to decline the application and remand him in custody after viewing footage taken from the dash cam of Dr Bellinge’s luxury blue Jaguar.

She not only considered his diving on the night of the collision but also of his alleged erratic behaviour in the days before, including allegedly speeding around Kings Park on the night of February 9.

After seeing the vision she concluded he posed a risk of re-offending if given bail.

“I find the risk to the community is too great and for those reasons I refuse bail,” Ms Cullen said.