Good Samaritans stop alleged drink driver on Adelaide’s Southern Expressway

Police have praised a group of good Samaritans for stopping an alleged drink driver after he nearly caused numerous crashes swerving all over the Southern Expressway.

An alleged drink driver travelling on the Southern Expressway with a blood-alcohol level more than four times the legal limit was stopped by a group of good Samaritans after he almost caused multiple crashes.

Multiple members of the public alerted the police to a Mitsubishi ASX swerving across the Southern Expressway at O’Halloran Hill just after 7.30pm.

The Mitsubishi was swerving in and out of the middle lane, narrowly missing other vehicles before another car pulled in front of it and slowed it down, causing the ASX to stop.

A driver travelling northbound in his Ford Ranger got out of his car and ran to the Mitsubishi and turned off the car’s engine.

Assisted by other drivers who had also stopped, they all moved the driver into the passenger seat of the Mitsubishi, pulled it into the emergency lane of the expressway and waited for police to arrive on scene.

The dramatic scene unfolded on the Southern Expressway at O’Halloran Hill. Picture: File

When patrols arrived, they breath-tested the driver, who recorded a result of .225.

SA Police Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes told FIVEAA the motorists had “really gone out on a limb” to stop the driver.

“It’s an incredible effort that they’ve all seen this happen and they’ve all banded together to do something about it and also risk their own lives,” Constable Stokes said.

“To get in front of him and slow him down and also be aware if he is or isn’t going to stop … if he’s that intoxicated and that much of a menace, there’s no guarantee that he’s going to see you slow down and stop.”

She joked that SA Police “might get them in for some training” after their heroics.

The 31-year-old man from Morphett Vale had his Mitsubishi impounded for 28 days and was immediately issued with a 12-month loss of licence.

He was reported for drink driving, to be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Originally published as Good Samaritans stop alleged drink driver on Adelaide’s Southern Expressway