A street racer in New Zealand has been convicted of dangerous driving after a judge dismissed his claim that a crash was caused by manure on his vehicle. The incident occurred during an illegal street race in Christchurch in late 2025.
During the trial at the Christchurch District Court, the driver argued that manure from a nearby field had been flicked onto his windscreen and tires, causing him to lose control and crash. However, Judge David Ruth found the explanation lacked credibility, stating the evidence pointed to dangerous driving at high speed as the clear cause.
The court heard that the race involved multiple vehicles and endangered public safety. The convicted driver was sentenced to community detention, community work, and was disqualified from driving. Police have reiterated warnings about the dangers and legal consequences of illegal street racing.
