A father accused of killing his four-year-old son by driving his car in front of a freight train in South Auckland ignored flashing lights and alarm bells at a railway crossing, a jury was told today.
Alan Stephens, 40, pleaded not guilty to reckless driving causing manslaughter and three charges of reckless driving causing injury when he appeared in the High Court at Auckland.
The Crown alleges Stephens drove his car around barrier arms at the railway intersection at Paerata, near Pukekohe, in 2009 directly into the path of the train which slammed into the back of the car, killing his son Trae Blayde and injuring his daughters Shannyne, six, and Holly, and niece Nakita, 12.
Truck driver Ioane Faalili told the jury today that he was travelling along Karaka Road when he was overtaken by a silver Mitsubishi in the face of oncoming traffic.
"I was very shaken, I could see children in the car and I thought something might happen. I got my phone and took a photo of the vehicle.
"Two oncoming cars had to swerve off the road into the gravel."
As he approached the rail crossing Mr Faalili said he saw the train coming.
He heard the alarm bells ringing and the barrier arms were down but couldn't see the Mitsubishi.
I knew something had happened because the train had stopped.
"I went to have a look under the train and I saw the same silver car which had overtaken me earlier. I could not believe what I saw."
NZPA