Sgt Michael Connors, of the Wangaratta highway patrol, said the driver, a 19-year-old Benalla man, was driving a early-model Holden utility towards Corowa on Federation Way when he was detected travelling at 67km/h over the speed limit at 11am on Sunday.

Sgt Connors said when asked by the highway patrol officer why he was speeding, “his reason was he was running late for dance class in Corowa”.

“You hear a lot of excuses but I’ve never heard running late for a dance class,” Sgt Connors said.

He said the teenager was a “bloody idiot” and a “road criminal” and there is no excuse to drive at that speed.

“They have no right to be on the road,” he said.

“This community would find his behaviour unacceptable.”

The 30-kilometre straight stretch of road had seen several deaths, which prompted police to concentrate on the road 18 months ago.

The teenager will be face Wangaratta Magistrates Court on summons for driving in a dangerous manner.

His car was impounded for 30 days.