Carla La Tella
Legal

Sunshine Coast clown car driver charged with up to 11 offences

A 29-year-old man from the Sunshine Coast has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly driving a "dangerously modified clown car", also known as "Silly Sid" through the drive-through of a fast-food chain in Caloundra.

It is alleged that Sam Eyles had purchased the vehicle, which was previously used to perform stunts at a circus, and modified it further to be able to perform a range of dangerous maneuvers.

Mr Eyles is facing three counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, two counts each of careless driving and drive with passenger unrestrained, as well as one count each of permit drive defective vehicle, drive defective vehicle, drive unrestrained and passenger fail to wear seatbelt.

Police alleged Mr Eyles also performed several other dangerous stunts on separate occasions and uploaded videos to social media that have been viewed millions of times.

Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol officer Darryl Campbell said the car was mechanically defective in a way where its centre of balance was thrown off to enable it to do front wheelies.

Police said after viewing the videos officers issued 70 traffic infringement notices totalling a combined total of $27,800 in fines and 99 demerit points to nine other people.

 

Image: ABC Sunshine Coast

Tags:
Legal, driving, ABC, Sunshine Coast, Queensland