Police with the Airdrie Integrated Traffic Unit have arrested a young driver who was caught doing over 70 km/h above the posted speed limit.

At about 8:55 a.m., they were told about a black Nissan Altima travelling at a high rate of speed southbound on Highway 2.

Officers soon located the car near the exit to Crossfield, at the Highway 72 overpass, recorded at a speed of 187 km/h on the 110 km/h highway.

When the vehicle stopped, the 15-year-old female driver attempted to swap seats with the passenger in an attempt to hide the fact she didn’t have a licence.

Police say the teen didn't even have a learner's permit and was in the car with an 18-year-old friend.

"It is definitely unnerving to see someone doing 187 km/h on southbound Highway 2, and then to get her pulled over and find out she’s a 15-year-old who doesn’t even have a driver’s license, that’s very concerning to us," says Sheriff Jason Graw.  "Not only is she putting herself and her passenger at risk, but also the officers that are tasked with trying to get her stopped and the other motorists on the highway.”

The girl, from Red Deer, has been charged with several offences under the Traffic Safety Act:

  • speeding at 77 km/hr over the posted speed limit
  • driving an uninsured motor vehicle
  • driving a motor vehicle without having a subsisting operators license
  • failing to provide valid proof of vehicle registration

The young driver is expected to appear in Airdrie Provincial Court on July 2.

The 18-year-old passenger will not be facing any charges.

This is the second time traffic units nabbed drivers on Highway 2 driving at excessive speeds in the very same area.

On Saturday, an RCMP motorcycle patrol officer witnessed two motorcyclists travelling southbound on the highway near the Highway 72 overpass at speeds nearing 140 km/hr.

The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop but only one of the two vehicles, a yellow Yamaha R1, stopped.

The RCMP member contacted his patrol partner and, after witnessing the second motorcycle, a 2011 Suzuki GSX R750, reach speeds of 180 km/hr, the second motorcycle officer apprehended the rider.

Both men, from Calgary, were charged with speeding and various other offences.