newy.com.au – A 50 year old van driver allegedly caught travelling at up to 148km/h on the M1 at Ryhope returned a high-range alcohol reading of 0.151, police say.
The man’s licence was immediately suspended and he was issued with a court attendance notice to appear before Toronto Local Court in November.
Newcastle City Highway Patrol officers were carrying out speed enforcement about 9.30pm on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, when they allegedly measured a white Ford Transit travelling at 145km/h in a 110km/h zone.
Police said officers caught up with the van and saw the driver pass another car on the left without indicating. Further speed checks allegedly recorded the van travelling between 146km/h and 148km/h.
Officers stopped the driver, who returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where police said a breath analysis returned the 0.151 reading.
Police said the man told officers his last drink had been in Sydney two hours earlier and he was travelling to the Hunter Valley to attend a friend’s funeral.
