Millionaire Caught Driving At 259mph On Motorway Avoids Jail

A millionaire has managed to avoid jail time after footage shared online showed him speeding down a German motorway at 259mph in his Bugatti.

Prosecutors launched an investigation into Radim Passer, 58, earlier this year after he was seen sitting behind the wheel of his car with a younger man in the passenger seat.

Passer, a Czech investment chief, appeared at one point to be travelling a staggering 259.1mph on a straight stretch of the A2 between Berlin and Hanover, prompting calls to impose speed limits on Germany's autobahn roads as well as the investigation into the incident.

By law, prosectors had to prove the driver was moving 'at an inappropriate speed and grossly contrary to traffic and recklessly in order to reach the highest possible speed'. The top speed of Passer's Bugatti Chiron is set at 261mph because the vehicle's tyres could burst if they went any faster.

Following the investigation, the public prosecutor's office in Stendal closed the investigation citing insufficient evidence to bring charges.

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The public prosecutor's office said the motorway was nearly empty and noted there was good visibility and weather conditions at the time of the stunt, as well as pointing out the Bugatti Chiron is designed for driving at such high speeds.

As a result, the public prosecutor ruled that no one was endangered during the 4.50am stunt. With insufficient suspicion of a crime, Passer was not charged.

At the time the video was released, Passer said it was shot on a six-mile, three-lane strip of road with 'visibility along the whole stretch' in 2021.

"Safety was a priority, so the circumstances had to be safe to go," he wrote, adding: "We thank God for the safety and good circumstances, as we were able to reach the speed."

The Transport Ministry said in a statement at the time it 'rejects any behaviour in road traffic that leads or can lead to endangering road users'.

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Much of Germany's motorway network has no speed limit, though it has a 'recommended' limit to drivers of 81mph. Last year, the German Alliance 90/The Greens political party called for the recommendation to become law as part of efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions, but the proposal was later ditched.

The video still remains live on Passer's YouTube page in spite of the controversy it has caused. At the time of writing (25 April) it has racked up more than 11 million views.