Man jailed for fatal crash after ignoring epilepsy diagnosis

Summarised from 4 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 15:29 · Archive

Noel Collins, 35, was sentenced to five years and seven months for causing death by dangerous driving on the A595 in Cumbria.

Noel Collins, 35, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on 21 October after admitting to causing death by dangerous driving. The collision occurred on 1 July 2024 on the A595 between Mealsgate and Bothel in Cumbria, when Collins's Toyota RAV4 collided head-on with a Honda Civic driven by 75-year-old George Jackson, a Wigton grandfather who died at the scene.

Collins had been diagnosed with probable temporal lobe epilepsy in 2020 and was prescribed anti-epileptic medication, but was reluctant to take it. He ignored medical advice that his condition made him unfit to drive and lied to medical professionals, hiding information so he could continue driving.

The fatal collision happened approximately three hours after Collins had driven the wrong way along the M6 near Penrith and crashed through a fence into a field. Experts concluded that both incidents resulted from Collins suffering a seizure or being confused after suffering one. At the time of the driving incidents, Collins was living in a caravan at Brigham and working for a firm fitting fibre optic equipment at locations in Cumbria.

Collins initially denied being the driver at the scene, but witnesses saw him at the driver's door moments after the crash. He tested negative for alcohol and drugs, but police described his behaviour as 'erratic'. He was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and formally charged the following day.

Judge Nicholas Barker sentenced Collins to 67 months, one month over five and a half years. The judge told him: 'You took your own need to drive as a higher priority than the safety of others.' Detective Sergeant Deborah Story from Cumbria Police said Collins' behaviour was 'completely self-serving, with a total disregard for anyone else' and that he 'thought he knew better' than medical professionals.

How it is being reported

• Death crash driver 'ignored' epilepsy diagnosis and advice to not driveA MOTORIST who caused the death of a much loved north Cumbria man ignored the advice of doctors that his medical condition made him unfit to drive.News & Star · 21 Oct, 13:55
• Death crash driver 'ignored' epilepsy diagnosis and advice to not driveA MOTORIST who caused the death of a much loved north Cumbria man ignored the advice of doctors that his medical condition made him unfit to drive.Westmorland Gazette · 21 Oct, 13:55
• Death crash driver 'ignored' epilepsy diagnosis and advice to not driveA MOTORIST who caused the death of a much loved north Cumbria man ignored the advice of doctors that his medical condition made him unfit to drive.NW Evening Mail · 21 Oct, 13:55
• Death crash driver 'ignored' epilepsy diagnosis and advice to not driveA MOTORIST who caused the death of a much loved north Cumbria man ignored the advice of doctors that his medical condition made him unfit to drive.Whitehaven News · 21 Oct, 13:55
• Man who ignored doctors warning not to drive before fatal crash jailedA man who ignored medical advice and hid his health conditions has been jailed for causing a fatal road collision.Westmorland Gazette · 21 Oct, 13:52
• Man who ignored doctors warning not to drive before fatal crash jailedA man who ignored medical advice and hid his health conditions has been jailed for causing a fatal road collision.NW Evening Mail · 21 Oct, 13:52

In this story: Noel Collins · George Jackson · Carlisle Crown Court · Cumbria Police · A595 · Cumbria

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