Anderson himself emerged unscathed from the wreckage and told police at the scene he was “sorry”, before a breath test found he had 95mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
He was taken to hospital as a precaution where he was “joking” and “flirting” with nurses, the court heard, and refused to give a blood sample as he claimed he was afraid of needles, despite his many tattoos.
Anderson declined to comment in his first interview, then gave officers a “wholly false account” that he had picked up a hitchhiker who was driving his car, Ms Dowling said.
He also told police he was “sorry people had died” but it was “not nice for him witness” and he “hoped the police would catch the driver”.
Officers did investigate his claim, but could prove he was the driver as his DNA was found on the steering wheel airbag.
Ms Dowling said he had previous convictions including for drinking and driving in 2006.
