Police issue long weekend safety message as three dodgy South-East drivers front court

With the horror road toll more than double compared to this time last year, officers will be out in force over the long weekend as three dodgy drivers front court.

With the state road toll double what it was this time last year police will be out in force in the South-East over the long weekend targeting reckless drivers.

Additional officers from Adelaide will be posted throughout the region to target, speeders, drink and drug drivers and phone users.

Speaking at a press conference Officer in charge of the Limestone Coast Superintendent Campbell Hill said officers had been tasked to two serious crashes in as many days.

On Monday a motorbike was involved in a crash with a four-wheel-drive, which left the bike trapped underneath the vehicle.

On Tuesday a car and logging truck was involved in a serious crash, with the driver of the car taken to hospital with injuries to his leg.

Officer in charge of the Limestone Coast Superintendent Campbell Hill hands out a stern message to drivers ahead of the long weekend. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Supt Hill said it was pure luck that neither crash had resulted in another fatality.

“We’ve been exceptionally lucky — and luck and hope is so far from a method,” Supt Hill said.

“In the previous long weekend, we had two really serious crashes there.”

Officers will be out in force targeting reckless road users ahead of the long weekend. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Following Supt Hill’s road message three reckless drivers fronted the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court for a mix of offences.

Nathan Heinrich-Wanke

Nathan Heinrich-Wanke, 18, was spotted by police travelling at 116 km/h in a 110 zone, with a blood alcohol reading of 0.091, a court has heard.

P-platers cannot travel over 100km/h and cannot have any alcohol present in their system.

The Mount Gambier man pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit by less than 10 km/h, driving with excessive blood alcohol, and contravening a condition of a provisional licence.

He was fined a total of $1200 and handed a six-month licence disqualification by Magistrate Koula Kossiavelous.

A conviction was recorded.

Callum John Cook

Callum John Cook, 27, told police he was surprised he blew over the limit when, after consuming Bundy and Coke at both a friend’s house and a popular Mount Gambier pub.

Police stopped Cook on Commercial Street East on December 4 at around 2am after noticing his tail lights were out, the court heard.

After enjoying a Bundy and Coke at a friend's house before consuming more booze at Mac's Hotel Callum John Cook was surprised when he blew over the limit, a court has heard. Picture: Supplied

A police prosecutor said Cook had a blood-alcohol content of 0.082.

“He spoke to police and said he was surprised that he had gone over the limit,” a police prosecutor said.

“He’d had some Bundy and Coke at a friend’s house — he’d gone to Mac’s Hotel where he’d consumed some more Bundy and Cokes.”

Cook pleaded guilty to driving with excessive blood alcohol.

The Dartmoor shearer was handed a $1,100 fine and a 12-month licence disqualification with a conviction recorded.

Bailey Delaney

Bailey Delaney, 21, was at a car meet — watching others “show off” and found he could not help himself and decided to pull a burnout.

The court heard the hoon driver was caught skidding his car and fishtailing along Grant Ave, just outside the Mount Gambier CBD — after police reviewed GoPro footage from a motorcycle in an unrelated incident.

“The footage captured the green Holden — the vehicle was seen to perform a sustained wheel spin — smoke could be seen coming from the rear tyres,” a police prosecutor said.

The car, which fishtailed over the road occasionally drifted into the oncoming lane of traffic, the court heard.

Delaney pleaded guilty to one count of misuse of a motor vehicle.

The Mount Gambier man was given a $300 fine.

Ms Kossiavelous opted not to record a conviction given his youth and lack of criminal history.