Driver’s explosive mix of danger

AN UNLICENSED Dandenong South man, who was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit, was caught speeding with boxes of fireworks in his ute.
Police nabbed the man, who is in his mid 30s, on the Dandenong Bypass driving recklessly at 140 kilometres per hour in an 80 km/h zone at about two minutes to midnight on New Year’s Eve. Senior Constable Andrew Cusworth from the Greater Dandenong Highway Patrol said the unlicensed driver, who was on his way to a party in Mulgrave to light the fireworks, refused breath tests.
He said the man’s behaviour and the fireworks had the potential to cause a serious incident like Tarneit man Carlos Rodriguez, who died after a firework exploded in his face.
“If he lit it in his intoxicated state, he could’ve easily harmed someone and the same thing (that happened to Mr Rodriguez) could’ve happened to him,” Sen Const Cusworth said.
“If he rolled his car because of his speed, it could’ve caught fire.
“His driving was extremely dangerous, he just flew. He was getting on Eastlink, so he would’ve clocked it even harder.”
The man’s car was impounded for 30 days.
He was charged with 10 traffic offences including driving at an excessive speed, driving under the influence of alcohol and unlicensed driving, as well as fireworks charges.