Hamilton Man Defends Charges in Fatal Crash, Citing Medical 'Blackout'

A 27-year-old Hamilton man is on trial for a fatal 2021 crash, claiming a medical blackout. Prosecution alleges he ignored a doctor's order not to drive.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 2:56 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Fatal Sequence of Events

The court heard that on the afternoon of April 26, 2021, the defendant’s red Volkswagen collided with a utility vehicle driven by Jeffrey Dawson at the intersection of Whatawhata Road and Poaka Avenue. The impact was described by Dawson as a "huge explosion" that caused his ute to flip multiple times.

Following the initial collision, the defendant's car mounted a kerb, became airborne, and struck pedestrian Adrian Michael Bell. The momentum shunted Bell through iron gates and into a garden 7 metres from the footpath, while the car crashed into two parked vehicles inside a private property, shunting them into a house. Bell died at the scene.

Medical History and Driving Bans

A central point of contention for Crown prosecutor Russell Boot is the defendant's medical history. The court was informed of several instances where medical professionals had advised the defendant not to drive:

November 2018: A neurologist advised a 12-month driving ban following "seizure-like events" possibly linked to hyperventilation or opioids.