200km/h dash to avoid checkpoint

Officers pull over a Norlane man after he sped at 200km/h.

By Luke Voogt

A Norlane man sped at 200km/h in an attempt to avoid Highway Patrol officers and the Geelong-Melbourne checkpoint this morning, according to police.

Officers were on Princes Freeway about 2am when they detected a blue Holden Commodore travelling at 110km/h, headed towards the city, in a 100 km/h zone, a police spokesperson said.

“The car drove past police and sped up to 200km/h.”

Officers intercepted the vehicle near the Werribee multi-bypass and spoke to the 36-year-old Norlane driver.

Police alleged the man told them that he was headed towards Melbourne to go to Colac via Ballarat Road to avoid the Geelong-Melbourne COVID-19 checkpoint.

The man had a valid reason for travelling, police said.

But police expect to charge the man on summons with several traffic offences including dangerous speeding, excessive speed and driving whilst disqualified

The Commodore, which belongs to the man’s aunt, was impounded at a cost of $1023.

Geelong Highway Patrol officers stopped another two cars for excessive speed this week.

Police detected a man speeding at 125km/h in a 100km/h zone on Mill Road, Lara about 4.35pm on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Lara man also provided a positive drug test and will appear at a magistrates’ court charged with traffic offences.

Later that evening, police intercepted a man with three passengers after he allegedly sped at 126km/h in a 60km/h zone on Portarlington Road, Newcomb about 10.10pm.

The 24-year-old Norlane man was an unlicensed probationary driver and returned an evidentiary breath test of .128.

Police impounded his car for 30 days at a cost of $1027 and expect to charge him on summons for drink driving and other offences.