New Zealand tradie accidentally smashes his work van into a Tesla owner’s garage – leaving him with an enormous bill for damages
Shocking surveillance footage has captured the dramatic moment a tradesman’s van veered off the road and into a Tesla owner’s garage in New Zealand.
Rob Johnson’s $80,000 Tesla Model Y requires repairs after a company van made a 180-degree turn and crashed into his garage in Auckland on Monday morning.
He was left with a $20,000 repair bill for his prized possession and garage.
He was ‘damned frustrated’ after officers initially wanted to be careful with the driver, who was a first-time offender, the new zealand herald reported.
Officers called Mr Johnson on Wednesday to ask if they could give the driver a diversion route – typically used for minor offences – to avoid a conviction.
Mr Johnson, who was not home at the time of the crash, received a phone call from his wife, who told him that there had been ‘a loud bang and the garage door was broken’.
When he returned, the damage was “much worse” than he had expected.
Mr Johnson told the publication that despite his insurance, he was still required to pay ‘an amount that he could claim back’.
CCTV captured the moment a van suddenly made a 180-degree turn and veered off the road, ploughing into a Tesla owner’s garage in Auckland at 8:48am on Monday
Rob Johnson’s $80,000 Tesla Model Y has a $20,000 repair bill and was left ‘frustrated’ and ‘disappointed’ when New Zealand police tried to let the driver off lightly
Mr Johnson was ‘disappointed’ that police were willing to let the trader go.
“What’s a distraction? I’m a bit old-fashioned and I believe in consequences, not wet bus tickets,” he said.
‘[Until I got home] I didn’t realize the back of the garage was gone. He moved the car, which weighs about a ton and a half, about a meter.’
Although his beloved Model Y was still drivable and suffered only minimal damage, the cost of repairing Mr. Johnson’s garage took up the majority of his repair costs.
Although Mr. Robinson’s $80,000 Tesla was still drivable, he said he still believes the driver should face consequences
Mr. Johnson wants the professional to be prosecuted.
‘For me, [the police] “We need to do something about it and charge him with dangerous driving or something,” he said.
Mr Johnson must agree to a diversion before police can implement one.
If the professional got a distraction, they would owe Mr. Johnson money a letter of apology and being forced to take a defensive driving course.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Zealand police for comment.