Epileptic seizure likely cause of fatal crash

Sharon Martin partner of Gary Wendt who died in the crash. Photo / David Kerr

The partner of a man who was one of two killed in a Hamilton crash is pleased that driver licensing rules are being reviewed after a coroner's hearing revealed the woman who caused the spectacular pile-up was likely suffering an epileptic seizure.

Ngaruawahia man Gary Wendt and Hamilton woman and Waikato Hospital orthopaedic nurse Kim French were both killed in the crash at the Dinsdale roundabout on January 2, this year.

The Hamilton coroner's court heard Sharon Martin was driving her vehicle around the roundabout with her partner, Mr Wendt in the passenger seat, heading off on a long weekend away when their vehicle was struck by Ms French's vehicle which witnesses testified in today's hearing was travelling well in excess of 100kmh.

Mr Wendt was killed instantly while Ms French died from her injuries in Waikato Hospital on March 4.

Ms French was seen driving erratically and at high speed, crossing the centre line of Whatawhata Rd before careering straight through the roundabout, clipping the side rear of a stationary Ford Falcon before hitting the side of Ms French's Nissan Primera and getting airborne, flipping nose to tail over the car before landing on its side in bushes in the middle of the roundabout.

Waikato police serious crash unit analyst Senior Constable Graham Fitzpatrick said after investigating Ms French's history, talking to witnesses and her close friends, he was comfortable with his finding that the crash was not deliberate and she was most likely suffering an epileptic seizure at the time.

He also discovered in the police database that she had been involved in four other single vehicle crashes between 2005 and 2013.

Ms Martin also mentioned to the coroner that she was told at the time of her interview by police that Ms French was "well known to Frankton Panel and Paint" indicating she had been involved in more crashes than those reported to police.

Mr Fitzpatrick said he was made aware yesterday of a review being carried out of the driver licensing system by the Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Transport Agency [NZTA].

He suggested to Coroner Gordon Matenga that he make a recommendation to ensure that police are made aware of every instance of licenses being revoked.

"I just think as an enforcement officer I would like to know that if I stop a vehicle if they have been medically revoked to drive and that should be available to enforcement officers."

Currently, unless written notification was reported to NZTA which was then passed on to police, there was no way of police knowing driver's medical history.

"To me it seems quite a gentlemen's agreement that has quite severe consequences when we consider that we don't know how many people a year ago would be presenting to a doctor, for medical reasons to be revoked from their licence, but we don't have any ability to be able to capture that knowledge because nobody is being notified."

When questioned by the Herald outside court, Ms Martin said she would "absolutely" support the police stance and any review of a motorist's medical history.

"It sounds like the coroner is taking it very, very seriously and the lead officer has made those points and wants to see some good come out of this ... but yes, you can't change history and what's happened but you can change the future."

Ms Martin said there appeared to be conflicting advice regarding when people can get back behind the wheel as NZTA said people "should not" drive which "implies that we strongly advise you not to but you can if you want to".

Coroner Matenga reserved his decision until next week.