Kookai fashion label owner Danielle Vagner faces jail over alleged hit run
THE fashion queen behind label Kookai faces up to five years in jail over an alleged drunken hit-run crash that saw her slam into a home and drive her luxury car without its tyres.
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THE fashion queen behind label Kookai faces up to five years in jail over an alleged drunken hit-run crash that saw her slam into a home and drive her luxury car without its tyres.
Police have slapped 10 charges against high-profile socialite Danielle Vagner and will allege her conduct endangered the lives of others as she navigated her crumbled, unregistered Range Rover SUV through a South Yarra laneway.
The co-founder of the Aussie fashion house, estimated to be worth $100 million, also allegedly attempted to escape police as they chased her on foot and according to court charges, failed to tell officers her name and address.
DRINK DRIVING CHARGES PENDING AGAINST KOOKAI FOUNDER
Known for strutting the runways as part of her Kookai clothing empire, she will do the less glamorous walk to court to answer the charges.
The mother-of-two crashed into a home about 5pm on June 12 this year, with the impact of the crash forcing the front entrance to collapse, sending bricks flying across the property.
The style mogul then allegedly drove allegedly for about 1km and down a laneway in an attempt to flee in her mangled car.
Vagner’s driving and damage alarmed some residents who filmed her crash.
Her car was so badly beaten up the front bumper bar was dragging along the ground, her airbags were inflated and she was driving on the front rims of her expensive car.
The Herald Sun has obtained charges from Melbourne Magistrates’ Court as a result of the incident, including reckless conduct, driving in manner dangerous, drink-driving, failing to render assistance after an accident, failing to stop vehicle after accident, failing to give name and address after causing property damage, failing to report to police, using a vehicle deemed not safe and not in a roadworthy condition and using an unregistered motor vehicle.
The 53-year-old from Toorak has previously claimed she has no recollection of the smash and blames a trip to dentist, which followed a long lunch where she had some drinks.
The homeowners have estimated the damage to the home to be $200,000.
At one stage she allegedly jumped out of her car to place a tyre inside her car.
In the video, one man can be heard yelling at Vagner saying: “Stop driving you are off your head.”
Police chased her on foot and she later came to a stop.
Vagner, who co-owns the Kookai chain, which has 39 stores across Australia, with her ex-husband Rob Cromb, has recently been charged and was released on bail.
Vagner will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on December 12.