Finnish tourists targeted in random Bibbulmun Track attack
A man has been charged after an alleged random attack on a pair of walkers on the Bibbulmun Track at the weekend.
Emergency services received a call just after 1.30pm about an incident in Paulls Valley on Saturday afternoon, near the start of the 1000km Bibbulman Track route.
WA Police spokeswoman Susan Usher said officers were told a man had been hit by a car, and things had quickly escalated.
"It will be alleged the driver... struck the 33-year-old male victim with the vehicle and then assaulted him with a shovel, causing a significant head wound," she said.
"It's believed the driver of the vehicle turned his attention to the male victim’s 33-year-old female companion, however the male victim managed to stand up and struggled with the driver."
It will be alleged the driver continued to assault the man, until the woman picked up a shovel and hit him over the head.
The impact caused the driver to let go, and a passer-by stopped to intervene.
The three held the driver down until police arrived.
Officers quickly responded to the emergency call at the Bibbulmun Track site, near the northern terminus point, and arrested the driver.
A white Mitsubishi Triton was seized, and it's understood the car had stolen number plates.
Police say the man and woman are both Finnish nationals visiting and working in Australia, and had never met the driver before the incident.
The man, woman and the driver of the vehicle were all taken to hospital.
A 36-year-old man from Sawyers Valley has since been charged with one charge of attempting to unlawfully kill.
He is due to appear in the Midland Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.