Sister of 10-year-old Jack Power reveals pain of witnessing his death

Stephanie Power was just six years old when she saw her brother, Jack, killed by a driver who had run a red light. Her mother says she lives with a “hell loop in her head”.

Jack Power, 10, pictured with his sister, Stephanie, and mum Bonnie, was fatally struck by a van driver at a pedestrian crossing in Blackburn North in 2018.

A six-year-old girl who looked on as her older brother was struck and killed by a red light-runner is still suffering from recurring nightmares three years on.

Stephanie Power, now 10 years old, was crossing the road with her 10-year-old brother Jack and a family friend when driver Zhou Hui Lu failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing and ploughed into him in Blackburn North on August 18, 2018.

The siblings’ mother, Bonnie Power, told the Supreme Court her daughter had only recently opened up about how clearly she still recalls the tragic incident.

“She finds it hard to talk about that dreadful night – I feel her anguish as she was so young and can’t find the words to express how she feels,” Ms Power said.

Bonnie Power with Stephanie, who was six years old when she saw her brother struck and killed by a van in 2018. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Ms Power said Stephanie told her she had woken from repeated nightmares where she relived looking up and down the street for Jack before finding his body, feeling an arrow piercing her heart.

“She has lived silently with that hell loop in her head for three and a half years, and it has only just surfaced now,” she said.

“I know she will spend a lifetime coming to terms with the fact that she saw her brother die. Only time will tell what the full impact will be for Steph.”

Mr Lu, 49, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop at a red light.

The Blackburn North construction worker sat silently at the back of the courtroom and listened to an interpreter as victim impact statements were read.

Mr Lu’s defence said he was extremely remorseful and immediately distressed upon realising he had struck a child.

Jack Power with his dad, Matt, and sister, Stephanie.

Jack’s head hit the passenger side windscreen and his body was struck by the front bullbar of Mr Lu’s Toyota Hiace van as it entered the pedestrian crossing on Springfield Rd at a speed of at least 52km/h at about 6.20pm.

Jack sustained life-threatening injuries and died in hospital the next day.

Stephanie and a 12-year-old family friend had been holding hands and crossing the road slightly ahead of Jack, with the friend yelling at Stephanie to run and pulling her towards the footpath when she saw the van was not stopping.

Neighbours said they heard screeching tyres and a thud before the girls screamed and called Jack’s name.

Jack Power’s grandfather described him as ‘honourable, kindly, peaceful and intelligent’.

Ms Power said the pain of losing Jack had changed her personality and affected her friendships and business.

“I feel like I was robbed of the joy of seeing him become a man,” she said.

“The hurt runs deep – nobody understands the extent of the suffering, and I’d prefer to be at home than face the world.

“Even though (friends) try to smile I can see the sadness in their eyes as they remember what happened to Jack – that really throws me when I’m having a good day.”

Mr Lu’s defence said he wanted to plead guilty to the charges after hearing the two girls would be cross-examined as witnesses if a trial went ahead.

Forensic psychologist Patrick Newton told the court Mr Lu had clearly suffered from PTSD following the collision and was deeply concerned for the welfare of the two girls and the Power family.

Mr Lu worked long hours until he was exhausted to try and fall asleep immediately and avoid reliving his fatal mistake, Mr Newton said.

Justice Amanda Fox said she would arrange for Mr Lu to be assessed for a community corrections order.