Trae Blayde Mitchell-Stephens

Killed by father Alan John Stephens. A truck driver was forced to take evasive action to avoid a crash with Alan who was seen dangerously overtaking other vehicles and cutting corners on the roads leading up to the railway crossing at rural Paerata, near Pukekohe. There he ignored flashing lights, warning-bells and barrier arms. He drove his car loaded with children around the barrier arms, onto the train tracks, and into the path of the 850-tonne south-bound express train. The train hit the back of the car, spinning it into the air. Alan's niece, Nikita Mitchell (aged 12), was thrown from the car and landed on the road some distance away. She suffered severe head injuries and will have serious problems for the rest of her life. Alan's daughter Holly (aged 2) had bleeding on the brain and Shannyne (aged 6) had bruises and cuts. Trae died after being flown to Starship Hospital in Auckland. Alan was uninjured. Source: https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/biographies/new-zealand-....

A family are divided after a man was yesterday found guilty of his four-year-old son's manslaughter and of causing a continuing traumatic brain injury to his niece. Alan John Stephens, 39, was found guilty in the High Court at Auckland of the manslaughter of Trae Blayde Mitchell-Stephens, 4. On January 20 last year, Stephens ignored flashing lights and sirens and drove around a barrier arm at a rail crossing in Pukekohe, south of Auckland. A train slammed into the back of the car, causing fatal injuries to Trae and a variety of injuries to the other passengers. Stephens was also found guilty of dangerous driving causing injury to his children Holly, 2, and Shannyne, 6, and to his niece Nikita Mitchell, 12, who was thrown from the car. Stephens' wife, Charlene, burst into tears as the manslaughter verdict was read out. Outside court, Constable Steve Carey said there was "not that forgiveness there" from Nikita Mitchell's side of the family. Nikita's brain injury caused mood swings, headaches, tiredness and inability to concentrate. Her mother had quit work to care for her. The Crown agreed to Stephens being remanded on bail till sentencing next month. Defence lawyer Quentin Duff said outside court there were "no winners or losers in this situation". In reaching the manslaughter verdict, the jury rejected a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death, deciding Stephens deliberately drove on to the track, Mr Duff said. Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4130394/Jury-judges-fath...