Driver Fled Rbt Before Car Crash, Court Told
Illawarra Mercury
Thursday November 20, 2003
A DRIVER whose car became airborne and rolled twice when it hit a roundabout at 90km/h was trying to avoid a random breath test, Wollongong Local Court heard yesterday.
The court was told Scott Alexander McArthur, 24, of Coombah Close, Nowra, ignored police requests to stop at the RBT operation in Burelli St, Wollongong, at 9.45pm on Tuesday night, making an illegal right turn and speeding away.
Police facts tendered to the court revealed McArthur's car reached speeds of up to 90km/h in a 50km/h zone in Keira St in Wollongong's CBD in an attempt to escape a police pursuit.
His car then hit the Ellen St roundabout and became airborne.
McArthur lost control of the vehicle, which rolled twice before coming to rest on the driver's side door.
The court heard police found McArthur unconscious in the driver's seat and he was taken to Wollongong Hospital, where his blood was tested for alcohol.
The test results were unavailable to the court yesterday, but police allege McArthur admitted drinking about six glasses of wine earlier that evening as he drove between Nowra and Wollongong.
McArthur pleaded guilty yesterday to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to undergo a breath test, disobeying a request to stop for a breath test, and unlicensed and unregistered driving.
Magistrate Chris McRobert refused bail, saying McArthur was a ``habitual offender" and at best would be serving his suspended sentence.
``He's very lucky he's here today and that he hasn't killed himself or someone else. I have no intention of letting him out to do it again."
The court is awaiting medical and sentencing options reports before McArthur appears in court on December 17 for sentencing.
© 2003 Illawarra Mercury