Ballarat Highway Patrol officers have charged a man for allegedly driving a vehicle at 224km/h in Bungaree earlier this month.
During Operation Furlong, officers clocked the Holden Commodore VE allegedly travelling at more than 160km/h in a 110km/h zone of the Western Highway at 12.24am on 1 November.
Police attempted to intercept the vehicle however when it reached speeds of 224km/h and turned off its lights, officers terminated the chase due to safety concerns.
Within hours of the incident, it's alleged the registered owner reported his vehicle stolen to police.
After a thorough investigation, officers arrested the 23-year-old registered owner on 10 November.
He was interviewed and released pending further enquiries.
Today investigators arrested a 21-year-old Ballarat man, who police will allege was the driver.
He has been charged with a number of serious traffic offences, including:
- Dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police
- Negligent driving while pursued by police
- Reckless conduct endanger life
- Drive in a manner dangerous
- Exceed speed-limit where a speed-limit sign applies
- Careless driving
- Drive whilst disqualified
- Driving without headlights on
He was remanded in custody to appear before Ballarat Magistrates' Court on 17 November.
The registered owner will be summonsed to appear before court in relation to perjury and making a false report to police.
Quotes attributable to Ballarat Highway Patrol Leading Senior Constable Ben Hay:
"Whilst we have spoken to the registered owner and he will be summonsed for false report and attempt to pervert the course of justice, a great deal of investigations behind the scenes have located the offending driver," he said.
"Driving at these speeds is exceedingly dangerous for both the driver and other motorists. A collision at these speeds would only end in tragedy.
"Community safety is our number one priority when it comes to making decisions around the pursuit of vehicles that are driving dangerously on our roads.
"While a driver may escape police on the day, that is just the start of our investigation to determine who was behind the wheel at the time.
"It's only a matter of time before you are located by police if you are doing the wrong thing on our roads."
