Link: http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/03/04/8619101-sun.html

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O.P.P. Sgt. Dave Woodford stands by an impounded Infiniti after it was clocked doing 250 km/h in Toronto, Tuesday, March 3, 2009. (Sun Media/Dave Thomas)

A 26-year-old Toronto man is believed to be the most extreme leadfoot ever nabbed by the OPP after he was allegedly clocked at 250 km/h -- two-and-a-half times the legal speed limit -- on a highway heading into the city early yesterday.

At that speed, he could have easily cruised from Toronto to London in under 45 minutes.

"It's unbelievable," Sgt. Dave Woodford said yesterday.

The speed is also well in excess of another highmiler two months ago that at the time was thought to be a new record for Toronto Police.

Follow up:

The OPP said a man was driving south on Hwy. 400 near Finch Ave. around 12:30 a.m. yesterday when he was spotted by an officer with laser radar in a parked police car. Two cruisers waiting just down the highway were alerted and sprang into action.

"The officers pulled onto the highway with their lights activated and the car eventually slowed down and stopped without incident," Woodford said. "As soon as he got out of the car, he said he was sorry."

But he didn't offer any excuses.

The man was driving an Infiniti G35, a high-performance vehicle that Woodford said did not appear to have any after-market parts. According to the manufacturer, the car's top speed is 253 km/h, he said.

However, a YouTube video that claims to be of a similar vehicle shows the Infiniti G35 reaching 260 km/h. In the clip, the needle on the speedometer climbs to 200 km/h in about 20 seconds. It takes another 30 seconds to reach maximum speed.

"I can't even imagine someone driving that fast," Woodford said. "The roads are not designed for that kind of speed."

There were few other vehicles on the road at the time of yesterday's incident.

"I think he saw a clear stretch and he just let 'er go. But all he had to do was hit a pothole and he would have lost control."

And at such a speed, he most likely would have been killed, said Woodford.

Antonio Talarico of Toronto, is charged under the province's stunt driving legislation.

His car was automatically seized and his licence suspended for seven days.

The accused will have to pay $150 to have his licence re-instated. That fee on top of the cost of towing and impounding the vehicle means the driver will be out about $1,000 before he even gets to court, Woodford said.

Talarico is scheduled to make his first appearance in a Toronto court on April 8. If he's found guilty, he could be fined anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000.

On Jan. 9, an Aurora man was charged after he allegedly flew past a Toronto Police cruiser in a Mercedes Benz SL600 at 231 km/h on the Don Valley Parkway.

John Kowal, 29, was charged with driving with a blood alcohol level over 80 mgs, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and stunt driving.

That was thought to be a new record for Toronto cops.

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