When there are fewer vehicles on the road due to the coronavirus pandemic, some drivers can’t help but take advantage of the situation. Indeed, most drivers are now taking a break, but law enforcement units aren’t. So when an 18-year old driver went as fast as 191.4 mph (308 km/h) on an Ontario highway, police officers were quick to stop his adrenaline rush. Let’s see what happened.
A 191-MPH Late Night Drive
It was the usual night for the Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Division (OPP HSD). But around 11 p.m., police officers noticed something unusual – a car was speeding on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). The speed laser caught a luxurious yet powerful Mercedes AMG C63 going as fast as 191.4 mph, or way beyond the speed limit of 60 mph (100 km/h).
In a video posted to Twitter, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt revealed that the vehicle was stopped near Burlington. It was driven by a certain Noah Lauricella, an 18-year old from Etobicoke. Interestingly, the Mercedes AMG C63 he was driving was his father’s, and a 19-year old companion was with him during the speed drive.
Charges Filed, Suspension Meted
As per Sgt. Schmidt, the AMG C63 was going so fast that other drivers passing by were “honking in delight” that the speeder had been stopped. Well, going three times the speed limit could result in a terrible accident on the road, and thankfully Lauricella was stopped even before lives could be lost.
Thanks to the arresting officer for making the timely stop. As for Lauricella, he has been charged with stunt driving/street racing under the Highway Traffic Act. He is also facing a criminal charge of dangerous driving. His license has been suspended for seven days, with the AMG C63 impounded for the same period of time.
In a news conference, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he isn't really happy with the speeding stunt, saying it was very reckless. He added that he is inclined to extend the seven-day penalty imposed on Lauricella to more than 30 days.
Not A Wise Call
While Lauricella might have wanted to test if his father's Mercedes AMG C63 is really fast, doing so in a public road with speed limits could never be a wise decision, especially when police officers are on stand-by. The world is already suffering with coronavirus, so fellow drivers, don’t add to the problem.
Sources: Toronto CTV News, OPP HSD on Twitter