Wendouree man Bryce Dridan has been found not guilty at Melbourne County Court this afternoon of culpable driving and an alternative charge of dangerous driving.

Dridan, now 31, was a participant in Stawell Motorsports Club’s November 2023 LOO5ENATS burnout competition on November 4, 2023, when his vehicle’s brakes failed while on the burnout pad.

He drove his Holden Commodore VU utility off the pad, through the arena and into the food court area, where he fatally struck pedestrian Trent DeZoete, 18, of Pimpinio.

A jury announced their verdict after a trial in recent weeks.