A 20-year-old driver from Grande Prairie, Alta., is facing hundreds of dollars in fines after Mounties say he was caught driving nearly three times the speed limit on a British Columbia highway. Police were unable to safely stop the Audi after it was clocked at 230 km/h in an 80 km/h zone near Fairmont Hot Springs in the Kootenay region on July 14, according to a B.C. Highway Patrol news release issued Thursday. “Determined to identify the driver, officers converged to an area where they believed the vehicle to be and, with information from helpful members of the public, learned that the Audi had entered a nearby campground,” police said. Officers located the Audi parked and unoccupied at the campground. They later identified the driver and developed grounds to suspect he was under the influence of alcohol, according to the release. Investigators said the driver provided a roadside breath sample that registered a “WARN” reading, indicating a blood-alcohol concentration of between 0.05 mg and 0.08 mg, triggering an immediate roadside prohibition. The driver was issued a three-day driving prohibition, along with a ticket for excessive speeding and another for driving without a driver’s licence. Police also ordered the Audi impounded for seven days. In total, the driver faces $959 in fines under the Motor Vehicle Act, in addition to towing and impound costs, the release said. Investigators said the matter will also be referred to the Alberta agency responsible for reviewing driving sanctions in that province. Sgt. Brett Reiben said the incident highlights how some traffic investigations continue beyond the roadway. “Not every investigation ends with flashing lights and a traffic stop,” he said in a statement. “This is a great example of persistent police work and good information from the public that held a driver accountable for his dangerous driving behaviour.” The B.C. Highway Patrol thanked members of the public who assisted officers during the investigation, saying reports from witnesses continue to play an important role in addressing dangerous driving on B.C. roads.
