A novice driver was nabbed doing nearly 200 km/h on a Vancouver Island highway with a posted speed limit of 100 km/h.

The speeding Honda Accord was spotted by a B.C. Highway Patrol officer on the evening of March 16, heading west on Highway 18 near Lake Cowichan going 194 km/h, according to an RCMP media release.

Another officer was alerted and began travelling towards the driver. The second officer established the driver was going at 191 km/hour.

Once the car was stopped, the 20-year-old driver with a novice licence was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to a local hospital.

"The Cowichan Valley Highway (Highway 18) usually has wildlife, such as elk, on or in close proximity to the roadway that become a visual distraction or something nobody wants to hit, especially in the dark," RCMP Const. Mike Infanti said in the release.

“Thankfully this young man did not get to meet one of these animals or any other obstacles prior to police meeting up with him.”

The car spent seven days on the impound lot and the driver was issued multiple tickets for excessive speeding.


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