Haydn Thomas Mansell: Man accused of fatal Redmond level crossing crash makes first in-person appearance

A Great Southern man accused of causing a rail-crossing crash that resulted in his wife’s death has made his first in-person appearance at court, but still not entered a plea to the charge against him. Haydn Thomas Mansell, 40, appeared in person for the first time in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, after he was issued with a summons following his first hearing, which he was excused from attending. Mr Mansell is charged with one count of careless driving causing death, grievous bodily harm or bodily harm, after his wife Cailee Mansell was killed in a crash at a level crossing in Redmond last July, when the car she and her family were in collided with a CBH grain train. It is alleged that Mr Mansell was driving the car the family occupied at the time of the crash. The couple’s three children and Mr Mansell were treated for minor injuries after the horror crash. At the time police said a black Mitsubishi Triton driving east on Redmond-Hay River Road and a train travelling north collided about 2pm on July 16, 2025. Defence lawyer Sonia Anderson told the court she was awaiting reports from the Major Crash Investigations officer dealing with Mr Mansell’s case. She said major crash had received a report from Main Roads WA, and were waiting on a report from the national rail safety regulator. Mr Mansell will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court for a trial allocation date on February 12. He still has not entered a plea to the single charge against him. Ms Anderson attempted to have Mr Mansell excused from attending his next appearance, noting his work as a school principal was interrupted by having to come to court. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers told Ms Anderson that Mr Mansell had not yet entered a plea and he would need to appear in person at the next date.