Driver not off hook

AN ALLEGED speedster who was caught doing 234 km/h on the N1 highway near Centurion will not get off scot-free after his case was scrapped from the roll.

David Hack, 55, who faced charges of reckless and negligent driving, with an alternative charge of exceeding the speed limit, was arrested along with his son Adam, 20, in July for allegedly racing in two Porche GT3s doing 234km/h and 188km/h near the John Vorster off-ramp.

Hack appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Friday and was told his case would be scrapped from the roll because his docket was not at court for a second time.

Gauteng traffic police spokeswoman Busapi Nxumalo said yesterday that Lyttelton police were investigating why the docket was not at court.

“He will not get off scot-free. As soon as we have established what happened to the docket, the case will be reinstated and he will be issued with a notice to appear in court,” Nxumalo said.

Hack jr, who allegedly told traffic officers that he was an Olympic swimmer in an attempt to avoid a fine, will know soon if he will be charged after his admission-of-guilt fine of R1 500 was revoked.

“His docket is still with the director of public prosecutions and we are awaiting their decision. No court date has been set yet,” Nxumalo said.

“Speeding is a very serious offence and we will not allow persons who choose to break the law to get off that easily.”

Recent offenders who paid a high price for speeding include controversial radio presenter Gareth Cliff.

In March, he pleaded guilty to charges of contravening the National Road Traffic Act and paid a fine of R10 000.

He was arrested for driving at 182km/h in a 120km/h zone on the R21.

An Mpumalanga mine manager, Andy McCauley, 48, was fined R80 000 and sentenced to two years in prison, which was suspended.

He was caught doing 212km/h in a 120km/h zone in a new Ferrari 455 on the N14 towards Pretoria in May.