Hello,

I think that saying that it was his friend who died in the crash would have not have had the same emotional punch as saying that his wife died. Yes, it would mean that his cover story would have seemed true - but, I dunno, I don't think he suspected that anyone would dig up a grave to verify his story (especially his wife's grave - that just seems so much more personal). I wonder why he decided to do that as well; he probably just didn't think it through.