Learner driver jailed for up to 17 months after driving at 253km/h on drugs

A South Australian court has sentenced a 20-year-old learner driver to a maximum of 17 months in jail, after the repeat-offender was caught driving a Holden Commodore SS ute at 143km/h above the posted speed limit while on drugs earlier this year.

On 30 January 2023, Barossa Highway Patrol officers on South Australia’s North-South Motorway detected a learner driver – later identified as Tarelle Power-Williams – driving at 253km/h in a 110km/h zone.

The Highway Patrol officers were able to catch up to Mr Power-Williams when the unregistered V8-powered Holden Commodore ute’s gearbox failed shortly after it was detected at the excessive speed.

While the detected speed was 143km/h above the posted limit, learner permit holders in South Australia are limited to 100km/h – resulting in the 20-year-old breaking his speed limit by 153km/h.

Following a roadside drug test, Mr Power-Williams returned a positive reading, while his passenger was found to be without a full licence – a requirement for supervisors of learner drivers in all Australian jurisdictions.

Earlier this month, Mr Power-Williams pled guilty to multiple offences relating to the incident – including police pursuit, driving unregistered and breaching bail.

A guilty plea had also been submitted due to unrelated charges from an earlier incident in November 2021, when Mr Power-Williams led police on an 18-minute pursuit in a stolen car, reaching speeds up to 140km/h in a 60km/h zone on the wrong side of the road.

ABC News reports Magistrate Benjamin Sale sentenced the 20-year-old to one year, four months and 28 days behind bars last week – though Mr Power-Williams will be able to apply for parole after seven months.

While Magistrate Sale had previously called Mr Power-Williams “probably the most dangerous person in the state” when he was behind the wheel, he noted the offender’s rough upbringing – which included periods of homelessness and drug addiction – had influenced his poor decisions.

However, Magistrate Sale slammed Mr Power-Williams’ reckless driving and his evasion of police, calling the latter offence just as serious as breaking the speed limit by more than 150km/h.

"You were noted as travelling at varying high speeds, you were observed aggressively changing lanes from the left shoulder to the right shoulder of the road through all three lanes of traffic at speed on many occasions," Magistrate Sale said, according to ABC News.

"When you were spoken to by police you admitted driving like a 'dickhead'.

“The facts of your offending really speak for themselves and whilst the extraordinary speed of 253km/h is attention-grabbing, the other offence of driving in a manner dangerous to escape police pursuit is, due to the length and dangerousness of the driving in general, in my view, of equal if not greater seriousness.”

According to 9News, Mr Power-Williams will not be allowed to hold a driver’s licence for at least six years after he is released from jail.