A teenage girl driving an ACT car has been charged after allegedly being spotted driving at 170km/h with three teen boys hanging out the windows of her car from the waist up near Goulburn on Monday.
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According to police, a number of concerned motorists reported seeing the car driving fast down the Hume Highway about 1.30pm with people hanging out of the car from the waist up.
About 2pm, a NSW highway patrol car on the side of the highway spotted the ACT-registered car, complete with P-plates and allegedly with three young men with half their bodies out the windows of the car. A speed check allegedly clocked the car at 170km/h.
When police pulled the car over, a 17-year-old girl on her provisional licence was behind the wheel with three teen boys – one aged 18 and two aged 16 – in the car.
She was charged for driving in a dangerous manner, speeding at more than 45km/h over the limit, and for driving with unrestrained passengers, and for driving with body parts outside the car.
She’s due to appear before a Goulburn court later this month.
The three passengers were also fined for not wearing their seatbelts and for hanging out the windows.
The NSW highway patrol commander Detective Superintendent Stuart Smith said it was particularly shocking the incident happened during what has been a terrible week for fatalities on NSW roads.
“Each and every time you get behind the wheel of a car you are responsible for the manner in which the vehicle is driven, and the behaviour of your passengers,” he said.
“It should go without saying that people hanging out the windows of a car is an extremely dangerous act that will not be tolerated, especially when the vehicle is travelling well beyond the speed limit on a busy highway.
“This young driver will pay a heavy price for her actions. She is lucky that it’s an appearance before a magistrate, and not at a funeral for one of her passengers.”
In separate incident, a man has been arrested and charged after allegedly speeding away from police on two separate occasions while towing a trailer near Goulburn.
Police first spotted the gold Holden Commodore towing a box trailer travelling at speed along Middle Arm Road about 5.45pm on Monday.
When they tried to pull the car over, it's alleged the driver accelerated away, initiating a short pursuit that allegedly reached speeds of 170km/h before police terminated the chase.
About 30 minutes later, the vehicle was again spotted by police on Crookwell Road, and another short pursuit was started before being called off.
Soon after, police received reports of an abandoned vehicle in a laneway off Albert Lane, where a search revealed two wallets with photo identification which led to the arrest of two men.
One, a 22-year-old, was charged with Skye's Law (relating to police pursuits), driving in a dangerous manner, for being an unaccompanied learner, and for exceeding the learner's legal speed limit. He is due to face Goulburn court on Tuesday.
The other man was released without charge.
Police have called for any witnesses to either of these incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the website.
