Spate of reckless drivers slammed days after teen tragically loses his life in tragic Keppoch crash

The tragic death of a Naracoorte teen in a horror crash has done little to deter SA’s hoons, with several caught driving at extreme speeds.

Days after an 18-year-old Naracoorte man tragically lost his life in a horror crash, police have allegedly caught a man driving disqualified, drunk and on drugs doing a whopping 86km/h over the speed limit in the South East.

Police say the Modbury Heights man, 38, was clocked in an orange Ford hatchback travelling 196km/h in a 110km/h zone along the Dukes Hwy at Bordertown just after 8pm on January 31.

He allegedly returned a positive drug test and had a blood alcohol reading of 0.107, with police also investigating reports the vehicle was allegedly overtaking dangerously and almost colliding with oncoming vehicles near Keith.

The arrest comes after a 20-year-old Smithfield driver on his L-plates was caught allegedly driving at 253km/h – 143km/h over the speed limit – at Waterloo Corner on January 30.

The alleged speed was one of the highest ever captured on South Australian roads.

Police Minister Joe Szakacs slammed speedsters and drink-drivers as “selfish idiots” who were a “menace” and “threat” to all road users.

Mr Szakacs said new laws aimed at targeting extreme speeders were introduced in August last year.

“Far too often we see heartbreaking stories of people who have lost loved ones due to the careless actions of others,” he said.

“Through these tough new measures, people suspected of serious driving offences, such as incidents seen recently in Bordertown and Keith, can be punished through an immediate licence suspension or disqualification.

“The government has given police the ability to take a driver’s licence instantly if they are caught drink driving or drug driving.

“If you hoon, drink or drug-drive you will be caught and you will pay the price – be it a loss of license, impound of your vehicle or even jail time.”

Operations Inspector Karmen Conway of Limestone Coast Police slam reckless drivers days after 18yo tragically dies in fatal Keppoch crash. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Limestone Coast police operations inspector Karmen Conway blasted the string of drivers recently caught allegedly flouting road rules.

Inspector Conway said in just two weeks there had been three road collisions in the South East where the drivers had registered an alcohol reading above 0.05.

“To have somebody lose their life on Monday, and then for these actions to occur overnight — it is unacceptable,” she said.

“It is unacceptable that people think that they can drive on our roads (and) blatantly breach the law.”

An 18-year old Naracoorte teen tragically died after colliding with a tree in Keppoch just outside Naracoorte. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Major Crash Investigators at the scene of a fatal accident involving an 18-year-old Naracoorte man on January 30.

Inspector Conway said the public needed to “step up” and either call out their friends and family when they choose to drive dangerously or call police if they are unable to do so.

“We have had four significant serious injury collisions. Noting that one was in regards to alleged hoon driving that contained three passengers and the vehicle rolled,” Inspector Conway said.

“It’s just been astounding — the blatant disregard to road safety and the majority is from our own community members.

“The impact of these deaths and serious injury are far reaching to our community.

The 38-year-old Modbury man was released on police bail and summoned to appear in the Bordertown Magistrates Court in March.

He received two instant loss of licenses, one for drink driving for six months and one for driving at extreme speed for 12 months, which will take effect at the end of his current disqualification period. His vehicle was also impounded for 28 days.

Police have appealed to the public for witnesses and dashcam footage from anyone who may have spotted the orange Ford Focus hatchback.