An Oakland teenager was arrested over the weekend after police said he was clocked driving nearly double the posted speed limit.

Cory Gooldrup, 18, of Summer Street, was arrested at about 8 a.m. Saturday by Oakland police Officer Michael Sayers, according to Oakland police Capt. Rick Stubbert. Sayers was parked alongside Middle Road when Gooldrup drove his 2008 Chevy Impala by at 82 mph, which was 37 mph more than the posted speed limit of 45. Middle Road connects with Route 23 in Oakland and goes south into Sidney.

Sayers pulled Gooldrup over and arrested him without incident on a charge of criminal speeding more than 30 mph over the speed limit. The Impala was towed away.

Stubbert said he has seen firsthand the tendency among young drivers to speed, and the consequences. “Over the years, we’ve seen bad accidents, fatal accidents,” Stubbert said.

Gooldrup was not suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Stubbert said.

Gooldrup did not post $500 cash bail and was taken to Kennebec County jail in Augusta. His court date is scheduled for April 8. Under state law, criminal speeding is a class E misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Stubbert said he couldn’t speak to the Gooldrup case specifically but said many of the cases he’s seen have involved young drivers traveling at unsafe speeds for the thrill of it.

National experts say teen speeding is one reason that young drivers die more often in traffic accidents. Research shows teen drivers are more at-risk for fatal accidents, in part because they tend to speed more often than more mature drivers, according to a 2010 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. According to the report, more than three in four teens said they had sped recently in residential areas or school zones. Young drivers are also more than twice as likely to be exceeding the proper speed at the time of a fatal crash.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling — 861-9287 mhhetling@centralmaine.com Twitter: @hh_matt