Dicing With Death

Illawarra Mercury

Monday January 12, 2009

By MICHELLE HOCTOR

A BERKELEY teenager was on life support last night after his car smashed into a power pole at high speed at the weekend.

Within eight hours of the first accident, a second P-plater and two teenage passengers were lucky to escape injury after their car hit a power pole at Figtree and burst into flames.

The two accidents came as police seek tougher penalties for P-platers, including confiscation of their cars for speeding offences.

The 18-year-old of Berkeley had been driving a 2004 BMW east along Weringa Ave, Lake Heights, at 7pm on Saturday when he lost control of the vehicle and hit the electricity pole at Katrina St.

Wollongong Police Chief Inspector Ken McDonald said the car was travelling at 125km/h in a 50km/h zone.

There were two male passengers, also aged 18.

Chief Insp McDonald said the rear tyres were bald, adding to the driving conditions.

The driver's side door took the brunt of the impact, trapping the driver by his legs and lower body.

He suffered head trauma and was unconscious as officers of the NSW Fire Brigades rescue squad worked to free him.

He was in Wollongong Hospital in a critical condition last night.

An 18-year-old passenger from Warrawong was treated for cuts to his face after being sprayed with glass.

A rear passenger, from Berkeley, suffered a head laceration. Both were also taken to Wollongong Hospital for treatment.

Early yesterday, three youths were lucky to escape death after the car in which they were travelling hit a power pole.

Chief Insp McDonald said an 18-year-old had been having a party at his Figtree home while his parents were away.

At 3am he allegedly got into his father's car and drove two companions, aged 17 and 18, west along Bellevue Rd, Figtree.

Trying to negotiate a right turn into Brentwood Ave, he lost control and crashed into a power pole, causing the vehicle to catch fire.

The youths scrambled from the car, one suffering cuts to his right leg and possible dislocation of his right shoulder.

Police were first on the scene and attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose before units from the NSW Fire Brigades arrived.

The young driver was breath tested and allegedly returned a reading of 0.150.

His licence was suspended and he was charged with having high-range PCA.

Fifty minutes later, a 22-year-old man from Young was arrested after travelling at 120km/h in a 60km/h zone at Ulladulla.

Police had attempted to stop the driver for a random breath test when he allegedly sped up and drove through a roundabout on the Princes Hwy.

He was later charged with driving in a manner dangerous and being a disqualified driver.

Chief Insp McDonald said the three incidents provided a warning to young drivers.

"If you are an inexperienced driver who travels at high speeds, there are serious consequences," he said.

Police announced during the week a push to have cars confiscated from P-platers for three months if they were found to be exceeding the speed limit by 20km/h.

MERCURY SAYS

It seems there are tighter laws placed on P-platers every year ... There comes a point where every individual has to take responsibility for their own life.

? EDITORIAL - PAGE 36

© 2009 Illawarra Mercury

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