Kookai boss Danielle Vagner allegedly unremorseful over drunk hit-run smash

THE high-profile owner of Kookai fashion label has been shamed as self-centred and unapologetic after she allegedly drunkenly smashed her luxury four-wheel drive into a South Yarra home before fleeing.

Danielle Vagner was allegedly twice the legal blood alcohol limit when her black Range Rover ploughed into a two-storey South Yarra home. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

A HIGH-PROFILE Australian fashion icon has been shamed as self-centred and unapologetic after she allegedly drunkenly smashed her luxury four-wheel drive into a South Yarra home and fleeing.

Danielle Vagner, who co-owns the $100 million Kookai fashion empire, was allegedly twice the legal blood alcohol limit when her black Range Rover ploughed into a two-storey Cromwell Crescent home causing $200,000 damage.

Kookai founder Danielle Vagner. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

Elena and Vladimir Sender are furious. Picture: Sarah Matray

The damage bill is estimated to be $200,000. Picture: Sarah Matray

Ms Vagner was then allegedly filmed by a passer-by attempting an embarrassing escape on the rims of her front tyres.

The destructive hit shocked homeowners Elena and Vladimir Sender who revealed the Toorak socialite has shown no remorse for her alleged drunken incident.

Ms Sender said the car damaged her front door and gate and sent bricks flying across her property.

“She did not even make an attempt to check if someone was hurt. She only thought of herself. It is very low,” said Ms Sender, a fellow Melbourne fashion boutique owner.

“I can’t comprehend her behaviour.

“She lives in a different world. I don’t think she plans (to apologise). A person who crashes into a house, makes a huge amount of damage and may have been drunk is terribly shocking.

“She has tried to do a very indecent thing.”

A motorist who slammed into a South Yarra home has stunned onlookers by reversing out and driving off. #7News pic.twitter.com/aOVzXxT6ae

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) June 13, 2018

Far from the usual glamorous spotlight, Vagner, 53, was seen arguing with shocked onlookers as they filmed her attempting to leave the scene in her mangled, slow-moving wreck about 5pm on Tuesday 12 June.

Her front bumper bar was dragging along the ground and her steering wheel airbag was fully inflated as she scraped her bare wheels across the pavement.

Chased by police on foot, the mother-of-two managed to travel about a kilometre before coming to a stop in an alleyway.

She was arrested and breathalysed, allegedly returning a reading of 0.99.

She has been released pending further inquiries.

The front gate and door at the South Yarra property were severely damaged. Picture: Sarah Matray

The mangled Range Rover. Picture: 7 News Melbourne

The impact of the crash shook a pillar holding up the top-storey of the home and the car also narrowly avoiding Mr Sender’s home office.

“We are very happy no one was home or physically hurt,” said Ms Sender.

“That she was not hurt is also incredibly lucky. I am glad she is still alive and in one piece.”

Ms Sender said the fashion boss has not been in contact with them, and expects to meet her in court over the estimated $200,000 damage bill.

“We live in limbo at the moment,” she said.

Over the past 25 years, the fashion identity has grown the highly-successful Kookai franchise from one to 39 highly boutiques across Australia.

Ms Vagner did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

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