Hamilton Man Found Guilty of Dangerous Driving Following Fatal Seizure-Linked Crash

Karl Barnett was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of a pedestrian in Hamilton after a judge ruled he ignored medical advice not to drive.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 3:32 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Fatal Collision at Whatawhata Road

The court heard that on the afternoon of April 26, 2021, Barnett was driving his Volkswagen through the intersection of Whatawhata Road and Poaka Avenue when he suffered what he described as a "blackout." His vehicle struck Jeffrey Dawson’s ute before mounting the kerb and hitting Adrian Bell, who was walking on the footpath. The force of the impact shunted Bell through iron gates and into a residential garden, where he died at the scene. Barnett’s car continued until it struck two parked vehicles, pushing them into a nearby house.

The Medical Evidence: Unpredictable "Lock-ups"

Judge Tompkins noted that Barnett, a healthcare assistant, had a five-year history of unpredictable seizures or "lock-up" events prior to the crash. While the defense argued these episodes were somatoform—linked to anxiety and typically occurring at night—senior doctors testified they had explicitly told Barnett not to drive. The judge rejected efforts by Barnett and his wife to minimize the condition, pointing out that just three days before the fatal accident, Barnett had sought medical advice specifically because he feared another seizure was imminent.

Judge’s Recommendation for Medical Disclosures

In a rare move following the verdict, Judge Tompkins issued a formal recommendation to the medical community. He suggested that healthcare professionals implement a mandatory disclosure system where patients must sign a document confirming they have been prohibited from driving for a specified period due to medical conditions. This recommendation seeks to close potential loopholes where patients, like Barnett, might claim they were never verbally told of the risks or failed to receive written discharge notes in the mail.