KELLY BURNS
Police are disgusted at two drivers who tore down Oak Avenue, Hastings, in broad daylight at speeds of 140km/h, just two weeks after a fiery fatal crash on the same straight.
Constable Tim Rowe, of the Hastings serious crash unit, was on Oak Avenue re-marking the scene of the crash a fortnight ago, when two cars "went flying" down the road at 6.16pm on Saturday.
He clocked the white Suburu Legacy, and early-model white Holden Camira at 140km/h. The speed limit on Oak Avenue is 60km/h.
Mr Rowe followed the cars and the Legacy pulled over. "It was disgusting to see that type of speed, that's 80km/h over the legal speed limit," he said.
The 25-year-old driver has been charged with dangerous driving and will appear in Hastings District Court on Thursday.
The driver of the Holden Camira did not stop, and police are still trying to locate the man.
Oak Avenue residents were active in reducing the speed limit from 100km/h to 60km/h in October last year, but say the drop did not go far enough.
Sue Hill said she has had a "gutsful" of the speeding and wants the whole stretch of road reduced to 60km/h, not just through the oak trees.
She has lived on the street for 25 years and said the recent racers did not surprise her.
"They just keep flying," she said.
Drivers took no notice, and the only people who drove to the limit were the residents.
"We know what this road does and how it kills," she said. Hastings District Council roading manager Rob Bramley said the council was bound by strict criteria for setting speed limits.
However, Oak Avenue was being reviewed and findings would be reported to the council in April.
If the road met criteria, the issue would be put out for public consultation, Mr Bramley said.
Just over two weeks ago, Sam Gillum, 32, of Hastings, died instantly when the car he was driving struck one of the avenue's 160-year-old trees.
The car burst into flames after the January 13 crash and wreckage was found in nearby paddocks.
Police have ruled out a mechanical or environmental fault being involved, and are awaiting autopsy and blood reports before determining the cause of the fatal crash.
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