Washington driver clocked at 262 km/h on the Coquihalla near Merritt Sunday

MERRITT – A Sunday afternoon patrol on the Coquihalla Highway netted a B.C. Highway Patrol (BCHP) a big catch — a car clocked at 262 kilometres per hour.

In a news release, BCHP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Moore says an officer was carrying out speed enforcement this past Sunday (May 7), in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla about 22 kilometres south of Merritt.

The officer saw a red Alfa Romeo Giulia passing two vehicles at high speed. The Mountie clocked the car at 262 km/h in a 120 km/h zone.

The driver, a Washington man in his 50s, was pulled over and had his vehicle impounded. He is now facing charges related to his driving.

BCHP’s Cpl. Jene-Rene Michaud notes May is High Risk Driving Awareness Month in B.C.

“…[O]fficers of BC Highway Patrol – Central are focusing their enforcement on dangerous driving behaviour on our highways,” said Michaud. “It isn’t worth someone’s life, or injury to anybody just to get to your destination sooner. We would like to remind motorists to be patient, drive safely and obey the posted speed limits.”

A stock photo of an Alfa Romeo Giulia, the make and model of vehicle stopped by a BCHP member Sunday. (Image Credit: Mariusz Burcz / Dreamstime.com)