Vince McMahon Avoids Conviction In Reckless Driving Case

Vince McMahon has escaped a conviction after appearing at Stamford Superior Court on Thursday in relation to the former WWE CEO's reckless driving and following too closely charges over a car crash earlier this year.

News 12 Connecticut noted that a judge on Thursday granted McMahon a pre-trial probation programme which allows the charges against him to be dropped in one year if he stays out of trouble and complies with the programme's conditions. McMahon was ordered to make a $1,000 charitable donation, however.

The 80-year-old applied for the accelerated rehabilitation programme ahead of his court appearance. Mark Sherman, McMahon's attorney, told Judge Gary White on Thursday that McMahon was fully insured and sent apology notes through counsel to the two other drivers involved in the car crash.

The prosecution didn't object to McMahon being subject to accelerated rehabilitation. The judge agreed to the programme, which allows first-time offenders charged with certain crimes to avoid a conviction.

McMahon's attorney told News 12: "Not every car accident is a crime. The judge recognised that, you know, there's a path for dismissal, and that's what happened here. This was an accident."

The former WWE Chairman stopped to take pictures and sign autographs with fans outside the courthouse following his court appearance.

McMahon was involved in a car crash on July 24 after his Bentley rear-ended a BMW while travelling on Route 15 in Westport, Connecticut. McMahon's Bentley then collided with a guardrail and debris from the collision struck another car in the opposite lane. It is alleged that McMahon was weaving in and out of traffic and driving in excess of 90 MPH at the time of the collision.