By Deanne Jeffers
SHEPPARTON police say they’re exhausted, furious, and bracing for more tragedy. After months of dangerous driving, serious crashes and preventable trauma, Superintendent Brett Kahan is calling on the community to change. He has issued a blunt and emotional plea: “Enough is enough.”
At a press conference following a string of serious road incidents across the Goulburn Valley, Superintendent Kahan did not hold back.
“We’re seeing excessive speeds of 200 kilometres an hour through and near the CBD of Shepparton, which is outrageous,” he said. “They’re not just going to kill themselves, but they’re going to kill those around them.”
Earlier this month, a utility travelling at high speed crashed into a pole near Riverside Plaza in Kialla. All three occupants were seriously injured and taken to the hospital, two of whom were airlifted from the scene.
Police now say the ute was travelling in convoy with another vehicle, a white Holden Commodore, which was also allegedly tearing through the city at up to 200km/h.
“To the driver of that car,” Kahan said, looking straight down the camera, “you saw your mates flip that vehicle. Why didn’t you stop? And why the heck were you driving 200km an hour?”
“The best-case scenario is surrender yourself to police,” he said. “This community doesn’t accept that behaviour, and very shortly we’ll know exactly who that person is.”
Police have released CCTV footage and images of the Commodore and its passenger and are asking for the public to help identify them. However, Superintendent Kahan said that this case is just one symptom of a much deeper problem.
In just one hour on the morning of Sunday, July 6, Shepparton Highway Patrol caught three drivers with blood alcohol readings three to four times over the legal limit. One of them, a 40-year-old man, was already disqualified and blew 0.197. Another man blue 0.179 at 8.30am while on his way to work.
Drug driving is another serious offence causing concern. Officers responded to a crash early last week where both drivers tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also detected several other meth and THC-impaired drivers across recent patrols.
“You just shake your head,” Kahan said. “And then you have to walk to someone’s house at 2am and tell their mum they’re not coming home, and I don’t want my constables doing it either, but we will unless this madness stops.”
Police say enforcement is about to get tougher than over. “There’s going to be more police, there’s going to be more lights, and there’s going to be more sirens in this town… more than you’ve ever seen before,” Kahan said. “We’re pulling over everything that moves from now on, because it’s the only way to keep our roads safe.
Superintendant Kahan is clear that police cannot do it alone. He also noted that since the horrific collision in Kialla, registrations for the CoolHeads Program – a free education session aimed at confronting young people with the real consequences of reckless driving – have surged and he also encouraged local people to register for the upcoming Police Forum on July 23.
“We cannot prevent deaths and serious injuries from occurring if this level of selfishness and stupidity continues,” Kahan said. “I don’t want my officers to have to tell another family their loved one is never coming home… unless we see a significant mindset change among some local motorists.”
And to the community, those feeling disheartened, afraid or frustrated, he has a final message:
“If you get pulled over by police and you’re doing nothing wrong, let my members know you’re doing a good job, because they’re doing exactly what I’m asking them to do.
“I know we’re doing all we can, so I’m hoping if this message reaches one person who’s treating our roads like a criminal, and that person goes, ‘I’ve just listened to what he had to say, and I’m going to stop doing it’ — well, that’s a win.”
CoolHeads will be held Wednesday, July 15, 7–9pm at Riverlinks Eastbank. The session is free, but bookings are required: https://sheppandgv.com.au/events/calendar/event-details/!/323/event/cool-heads-july-2025
Greater Shepparton PSA Neighbourhood Policing Online Forum will run Wednesday, July 23, 6–8pm. Register online: www.eventbrite.com/e/greater-shepparton-psa-neighbourhood-policing-online-forum-tickets-1368167177859
