‘Severe consequences’ expected for disqualified, allegedly drug-fuelled driver speeding near Bordertown

SA’s top cop has blasted a driver arrested for speeds of more than 200km/h on a major highway – just a day after an L-plater was caught allegedly driving at an astonishing 253km/h.

A disqualified drug driver is expected to face “severe consequences” after he was busted allegedly travelling at extreme speeds in the South East on Tuesday night.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the man had only recently retrieved his vehicle from an impound yard for previous offending and faced “severe consequences”.

Just after 8.00pm, officers conducting speed detection duties on the Dukes Highway near Bordertown spotted a Ford Focus hatchback travelling east at 196km/h in a 110km/h zone.

The vehicle was stopped and the driver allegedly returned a positive result to a drug test, and to a breath test – with a reading of 0.107.

Further checks revealed the driver was also disqualified from driving.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

A SAPOL officer uses a laser gun to detect speeding drivers. Picture: Simon Cross

Police are also investigating claims the vehicle was involved in overtaking dangerously on double barrier lines, almost colliding with oncoming vehicles in Keith.

Further checks revealed the vehicle allegedly travelled between Keith and Bordertown at speeds averaging over 200km/h.

The driver, a 48-year-old man from Modbury Heights has been charged with two counts of driving in a dangerous manner, extreme speed, driving disqualified, driving with an excess blood alcohol and driving with a prescribed drug in his system.

He was bailed to appear in the Bordertown Magistrates Court in March.

Barossa Highway Patrol clocked a black 2009 Holden utility travelling north at 253km/h in a 110km/h zone. Picture: SA Police

The man also received two instant loss of licences, 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.

Mr Stevens blasted the man’s alleged actions.

“We would expect this person will face severe consequences as a result of multiple offences and clearly not learning their lesson,” he said.

“These extreme speeds are just horrifically dangerous, you know the fact that people don’t kill innocents on the roads, it’s only a matter if time, unfortunately.”

Police are appealing to witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers or Bordertown police.

It comes just 24 hours after a L-plater was caught allegedly driving at 253km/h – 143km/h over the speed limit – making it one of the highest speeds to ever be captured on South Australian roads.

The 20-year-old man, from Smithfield, was caught in a black 2009 Holden ute, at Waterloo Corner, about 6.30pm on Monday.

Police said Barossa Highway Patrol were undertaking speed detection duties on the North South Motorway, when they clocked the driver travelling north allegedly at 253km/h in a 110km/h zone.

Shortly after, the ute broke down, enabling police to catch up to the car and speak to the driver.

Checks revealed the driver was holding a learner’s permit, while driving with another passenger, who was not a fully licenced driver.

Police said the driver also returned a positive reading to a drug test.

In total, he was reported for aggravated extreme speed, driving in a dangerous manner, breach of learner’s permit and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

The driver lost his licence on the spot for 12 months, and had his vehicle impounded for 28 days, as he waits to appear in court at a later date.