Man pulls away from police to impress friends in Tesla

A man who mistakenly accelerated away from police in his Tesla to ‘show off’ to his friends after a bucks party has been fined $6,350 and lost his license.

Vasantha Srinivasan, 40, was renting his Sunshine Coast home to a friend through Airbnb for the celebration and had checked in to see how everything was going.

As he went to leave the house, Mr Srinivasan jumped into his new electric car and ‘sped off’, despite the flashing lights of a police car waiting outside the property, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported.

As he went to leave the house, Mr Srinivasan jumped into his new electric car and ‘sped off’, despite the flashing lights of a police car waiting outside the property

Mr Srinivasan pleaded guilty to one count of failure to stop a motor vehicle in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday and accepted the $6,350 fine.

He said he was attending his Buddina house because he had issues with previous guests and was surprised to find the bucks party ‘more vibrant’ than expected.

As the 40-year-old went to leave, he jumped in his Tesla and drove away trying to impress the guests, thinking the police waiting were there to handle a ‘noise complaint’.

Police followed Mr Srinivasan as he increased in speed and was driving on the wrong side of the road.

They eventually abandoned the chase after he drove up an embankment, the court heard. 

His lawyer said Mr Srinivasan was working as a pilot the next day and there was no evidence alcohol was involved. She also denied the 40-year-old was speeding.

The $6,350 he was fined is the minimum amount penalised for the offence. 

Mr Srinivasan has been disqualified from driving for two years.