Nothing screams ‘Sydney’ like a mysterious Chinese socialite crashing her Tiffany blue Rolls-Royce into a Mercedes van being driven by Kyle Sandilands’ chauffeur.
But long before LanLan Yang got behind the wheel, I’ve witnessed plenty of celebs, sportsmen and ‘It’ girls tear up the eastern suburbs Grand Theft Auto-style in a parade of luxury vehicles – only to receive a slap on the wrist.
(That was a joke about bad driving inspired by the popular video game series – I’m not suggesting these people actually stole their cars.)
While it’s hardly Moscow at rush hour, the Emerald City is nonetheless famous for its shocking driving, and whenever a famous name is involved, I’m always around to take down their details.
And it’s clear that even the most expensive vehicles are not immune to human error.
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LanLan Yang (right, with a minder) reported to Rose Bay Police station on July 30. She would not answer my questions about the car crash she was involved in at about 3.30am on July 26
LanLan Yang’s Rolls-Royce (left) crashed head-on with a Mercedes van (right) that was being driven by 52-year-old George Plassaras, the personal chauffeur of radio king Kyle Sandilands
The crash left Mr Plassaras (pictured) hospitalised with a broken spine, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen and diaphragm, a torn-open abdomen, two broken hips and two broken femurs
In June 2014, Jodhi Meares – the ex-model and founder of swimwear brand Tigerlily – turned the quiet streets of Bellevue Hill into a crash site when her $200,000 Range Rover mounted the kerb, ploughed into three parked cars and rolled onto its side.
Police recorded her blood alcohol level at 0.181 – nearly four times over the legal limit.
Meares – famously married to casino magnate James Packer from 1999 to 2002 – later pleaded guilty, was fined $1,100 and had her licence suspended for 12 months.
The crash occurred while she was already facing her sixth licence suspension, alongside a history of speeding fines.
Just down the road in the same year, now-retired AFL star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin collided with four parked cars while driving through Rose Bay.
Witnesses said the impact caused the airbags to deploy.
Franklin – who was alone at the time – was not impaired, nor was he texting or speeding, but was issued a $405 traffic infringement notice for negligent driving and lost three demerit points.
He later said the incident left him ‘in shock’ and frustrated to be back in the headlines for an off-field matter.
In June 2014, Jodhi Meares (right, with ex-partner Jon Stevens in February 2015) turned the streets of Bellevue Hill into a crash site when her Range Rover ploughed into three parked cars
Her $200,000 vehicle mounted the kerb, hit a trio of parked cars and rolled onto its side
Awkwardly, it wasn’t even his car. It had been loaned by Jeep to his then-girlfriend, now-wife Jesinta Campbell. Try explaining that to the PR…
In February 2014, Bondi beachgoers watched in disbelief as a sedan careered onto the sand.
Police said a 90-year-old driver had passed out behind the wheel while driving down Lamrock Avenue, veering across a footpath on Campbell Parade, smashing through street signs, and plunging down a 60-metre embankment before coming to rest at the southern end of the beach.
Remarkably, no one on the beach was injured, and the driver escaped with only the loss of his false teeth.
Only last week, a Lamborghini came to a very expensive halt on Sydney’s Bondi to Coogee walk after flying off the road at the notorious Bronte bend and crashing into a fence – landing just metres from pedestrians.
Police said the 22-year-old driver returned negative results for alcohol and drugs but was fined for negligent driving.
Residents said they were not surprised, with one claiming the man was often seen ‘hooning up and down’ the street.
Last month – in the early hours of Saturday, July 26 – wealthy heiress LanLan Yang was allegedly drunk when police say she veered her $1million Rolls-Royce Cullinan onto the wrong side of the road and slammed into a Mercedes van.
Yang’s luxury SUV was written off and the van’s driver, George Plassaras – a celebrity chauffeur who works for radio king Kyle Sandilands – was hospitalised with a broken spine, ribs, hips and femurs, as well as severe internal injuries.
Last week, a Lamborghini skidded to a halt on the Bondi to Coogee walk after flying off the road at the notorious Bronte bend and crashing into a fence, landing metres from pedestrians
Now-retired AFL star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin (right, with wife Jesinta in September 2014) collided with four parked cars while driving solo through Rose Bay in April 2014
The impact of the crash caused the Jeep’s airbags to deploy
In February 2014, Bondi beachgoers watched in disbelief as a sedan careered onto the sand
The incident gripped the public, fuelled by Yang’s lavish lifestyle – from her designer wardrobe to her penthouse apartment with harbour views and a second Rolls-Royce – as well as the enduring mystery of her fortune’s source.
In 2022, another Lamborghini driver crashed his $420,000 Huracan into two cars during a high-speed police pursuit in Sydney’s southwest.
Officers said the vehicle was travelling at more than 150km/h in a 70km/h zone and reached speeds of over 210km/h before the driver lost control.
He allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was arrested and charged with eight offences, including engaging in a police pursuit, assaulting police, resisting arrest, and driving while disqualified.
The incidents serve as a reminder that luxury cars require the same level of responsibility – if not more – than any other vehicle on the road.
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