A father who recently won custody of his four children died after allegedly being crushed to death in a horrific rampage in Perth’s east on Tuesday.
A man has now been charged with the murder of Peter Sponza, among other charges.
Mr Sponza was on his lunch break at a Metronet construction site in Bayswater, east of Perth, when the tragedy struck about 11am on Tuesday.
A 29-year-old man from Great Southern was allegedly armed with a knife and, acting erratically, attacked Mr Sponza with his car after it hit another vehicle and slashed its tires with a knife .
Mr Sponza was taken to Royal Perth Hospital, but later died despite the tireless efforts of his colleagues and the emergency services.
His boss, TNE civil boss Ross Hogan, said the staff were eating sandwiches on a bench during their lunch break when a man approached them and repeatedly asked where their father was.
The man returned to his car, with co-workers he was able to get out of the way.
“But Pete had blood clots in his legs and he wasn’t that quick on his feet… (the car) dragged him a few meters down the road and then hit a pole.”
Mr Hogan said Mr Sponza’s colleagues tried to revive him at the scene before emergency services arrived.
He said, “I went to the hospital thinking there was some hope, because the boys said he was breathing and they felt his pulse.”
Mr. Hogan has set up a fundraising event for Mr. Sponza’s children.
“It’s terrible, yesterday was the happiest day of Pete’s life because he got 100 percent custody of his children,” Mr. Hogan said.
“Pete literally came to work and said, ‘I’m finding a house to bring the kids and start my new life.’
“He came to WA to change his life, to do the right thing and that’s what he did.
“He was with us for a year, he fought the courts, he wanted custody of his children and this happens.”
Peter Sponza GoFundMe page already picked up That’s more than $16,000 that will go to the Smith Family Foundation to help Mr. Sponza’s children.
Police have now charged a 29-year-old Great Southern man with murder, aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm, careless driving, carrying a weapon in a manner likely to cause fear and criminal damage or destruction of property.
The man was detained on Tuesday and medically examined.
Inspector Jason van der Ende said it was a traumatic incident for everyone involved.
“There were two small children in the car who thankfully escaped unharmed,” he said.
“This case is complex and will take some time to investigate.”
