Father of two identified as cyclist killed in hit-and-run as police hunt driver

A Perth father of two, Joseph Paratore, has been identified as the victim of a fatal hit-and-run accident in Perth's south. The 40-year-old cyclist was hit by a vehicle around 5:20am on Tuesday morning and died at the scene. Friends described Mr Paratore as a loving husband and devoted father to two young boys, praising his larger-than-life personality and his love for cycling. He embraced cycling to improve his health and fitness, ultimately believing it would give him a new lease on life.

The death marks the sixth cycling fatality in Western Australia this year, compared to an average of four a year. WestCycle CEO Wayne Bradshaw expressed disappointment in the effectiveness of the current safe passing law, stating that it has not been successful in ensuring cyclist safety. He proposed a change to presumed liability, where the driver must prove they were not at fault rather than placing the burden on cyclists.

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti acknowledged the need to improve cyclist safety, suggesting dedicated cycling paths as a measure. However, she declined to comment on whether the government would consider the proposed law change.