Scenic Rim man James Andrew Beattie jailed for dangerous driving display on Pacific Mwy, Byron area

A Queensland man got sloshed at a Byron pub before overtaking 42 cars in six minutes while driving 209km/h on the Pacific Mwy – all to a best of 90s playlist featuring Blur’s Song 2.

Beattie crashed into another car which landed next to a parked Highway patrol car. Picture: File

WOO-HOO: A Queensland man got sloshed at a Byron pub before overtaking 42 cars in six minutes while driving 209km/h on a stretch of the Pacific Mwy – all to a best of 90s playlist featuring Blur’s Song 2.

James Andrew Beattie faced Byron Bay Local Court this week after pleading guilty to reckless driving and driving with a mid-range blood alcohol level.

The court heard the 54-year-old farmer from Anthony in the Scenic Rim region got smashed on schooners of craft beer at a Byron Shire pub before jumping behind the wheel of a high-performance Holden V8 about 4.30pm on August 30 last year.

Dashcam footage from Beattie’s car captured the offending. Picture: File

Beattie overtook 42 cars in six minutes while driving up to 209km/h, from Yelgun to Round Mountain, spanning 20km of the Pacific Mwy, court documents state.

Beattie drove dangerously between Yelgun and Round Mountain. Picture: Google

Dashcam footage from Beattie’s vehicle was played in court. It showed him racing past cars, and narrowly avoiding hitting two vehicles. He can be heard calling another driver a “c--ksucker” while he struggled overtake them.

In the footage, a selection of 1990s tunes can be heard on the car stereo, including Blur’s 1997 smash-hit – Song 2.

In response to Beattie’s dangerous driving, a car in the left lane revved the engine and sped up. The offender laughed, telling his wife in the passenger seat he was going faster than them, the court heard.

Beattie then crashed into the back of a Nissan, causing it to go airborne, spin 180 degrees and land next to a parked highway patrol car.

The footage ended as Beattie’s wife said: “What the f--k, mate we’re f--ked”.

He responded: “I am way over the limit.”

Beattie was sentenced ay Byron Bay Court House. Picture: Byron Shire News/Savannah Pocock

Police facts state Beattie told officers the Nissan had cut him off, while his wife frantically pressed buttons on the dashcam trying to delete the footage, the court heard.

While police spoke to the farmer, other cars who had seen Beattie’s shocking display screamed out their windows as they drove past, court documents state.

“That bloke was driving like an absolute maniac,” one driver said.

“Sucked in you f–king idiot,” another said.

“That ute was flying in and out of cars,” a third yelled.

He returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.112, police state.

At court Beattie’s defence lawyer Robert Buckland said his client has been developing PTSD symptoms from the crash.

“He is a hard working and well-respected member in the community. He is a low-risk reoffender,” he said.

Magistrate Karen Stafford said the dashcam footage allowed her to see “in graphic detail” the extent of how dangerous Beattie’s driving was.

“I think this is the worst mid-range drink driving case I have ever seen in my 12 years,” she said.

“He abandoned moral responsibility completely as a driver on that day.”

“I’m astounded but very grateful there were no injuries.”

Beattie was sentenced to five months in jail. He must have an interlock device in his car for 12 months upon his release.

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