POLICE have arrested a man who allegedly drove into a traffic safety camera on the South Eastern Freeway.

A white 2001 Holden sedan slammed into a bay of point-to-point cameras just off the city-bound lanes of the freeway, near Mt Barker, about 5.30am on Monday.

The car’s engine was thrown from the vehicle during the impact and two of the point-to-point cameras were damaged.

It is believed the man driving the car was picked up by a passing motorist.

media_camera The car which destroyed a point-to-point camera on the South Eastern Freeway near Mt Barker. Picture: SA Police.

media_camera The engine of the car, with the vehicle in the background. Picture: SA Police

His car avoided a guard rail protecting the speed cameras, raising the possibility it was driven on the median strip for at least 20m before slamming into them.

Police investigating the crash on Tuesday arrested a Salisbury North man, 40, at his home.

He was charged with driving without due care, failing to truly answer questions, making a false report to police and disobeying a driver direction.

The man, who was not injured, was bailed to appear in the Mt Barker Magistrates Court in June.

A Transport Department spokeswoman said the cameras would take up to four months to repair and be fully functional.

media_camera What’s left of the car’s engine.

She said the total cost of repairs would be about $90,000 and loss of revenue in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.