Ban for drink driver who left crash scene and drove for miles

Perth man five times over limit caused collision then drove through city streets with bumper hanging off

A drunken motorist drove on for several miles with his airbags deployed and his bumper dragging along the ground after smashing into another car at 50 miles per hour.

Andrew Roxburgh was banned from driving for 30 months yesterday after he admitted causing the crash while he was nearly five times over the legal limit.

The 39-year-old was also ordered to perform 270 hours unpaid work in the community after Sheriff William Wood told him he was lucky not to be jailed.

He told Roxburgh: “You can count yourself to be very fortunate.”

Depute fiscal Bill Kermode told Perth Sheriff Court: “People were driving at 50 miles per hour due to heavy traffic.

“Laura Pacitti was gradually overtaking when she saw the accused’s car approaching behind her at speed. She was unable to take evasive action and he crashed into her vehicle. The accused’s car had extensive front end damage.”

Roxburgh pulled in to the side of the A9 briefly before driving off again within a matter of seconds, with his Subaru badly damaged.

Mr Kermode said: “The front bumper was dragging along the road. Witnesses saw him speed from a slip road and turn towards Perth.”

The witness took a photo of Roxburgh’s car and followed him until he eventually parked close to a garage.

They saw the accused staggering near his vehicle and thought he was drunk so, like several other people, called police.

When officers arrived at Roxburgh’s home in Eriskay Place, Perth, he was sweaty and clearly under the influence.

He claimed he had downed a bottle of wine since getting home. His alcohol reading was almost exactly five times over the limit at 109 mics when he was breathalysed two hours after the crash.

Roxburgh admitted driving carelessly and colliding with the Ford Focus on the A9 on August 3 last year, as well as drink driving in various Perth streets and failing to stop after an accident had taken place on the dual carriageway.

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: “He had been drinking to excess. He thought he had slowed down.”