Jaskaran Singh: Passenger in the car that crashed into Kiama teen Libby Ruge reveals ‘fear’

The back seat passenger in a car that crashed into and killed Kiama teen Libby Ruge outside of Collegians in Wollongong two years ago has given evidence in court. Read his recollection of events.

The second day of the trial of Jaskaran Singh, the man accused of crashing into and killing Kiama teen Libby Ruge, played out in Wollongong District Court on Tuesday with jurors hearing evidence from a passenger.

Nilesh Mishra told the court of “silly” and “disrespectful” hooning allegedly undertaken by Singh moments before the Toyota Camry launched into a group of friends outside Collegians in Wollongong on November 7, 2020.

Singh pleaded not guilty to three counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm, and not rendering assistance as a driver, during the first day of his trial at Wollongong District Court.

However his passenger and co-accused Arpan Sharma entered a plea of guilty earlier that day.

Mr Mishra, 37, explained how Sharma, who he occasionally worked with at a Figtree car wash, had invited him to a party at his residence in the Wollongong CBD.

Nilesh Mishra leaving Wollongong Court after giving evidence on Tuesday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

The witness said he was picked up by Sharma and Singh from his accommodation near the University of Wollongong – it was the first time he had met the then 19-year-old Singh.

Mr Mishra told the court that he never drank alcohol, but judged Sharma was visibly intoxicated before offering for him and Singh to drive him home with the latter in the driver’s seat.

Mr Mishra said he didn’t know if Singh had been drinking alcohol or soft drink before describing the moments prior to the fatal crash.

“I was behind the passenger seat,” Mr Mishra said.

“All the time they were talking Punjabi, I spoke to them in Hindi because they aren’t good with English. They were playing loud Punjabi music (through the car stereo).

“There were being silly and being loud at people. Arpan was being more silly and yelling out the window. They were yelling at people waiting to cross the road which was very disrespectful.

“I can tell you he was not a good driver at all. At times I felt the break and Arpan was instructing ‘Why are you driving fast? Why are you driving slow?’”

Jaskaran Singh is on trial in Wollongong District Court.

Mr Mishra explained how the car was being driven recklessly along Keira St in the heart of the city.

“I felt skidding,” a seemingly distressed Mr Mishra said from the witness box.

“I said to drive safely, but Arpan said ‘Don’t worry you’ll be fine.’

“I saw Arpan’s hand on the handbrake and felt skidding, my head was moving forward and sideways.

“They were yelling at people in Punjabi near Guzman y Gomez, it was very silly and disrespectful. Jaskaran was enjoying it because he was laughing when we skid near [Hotel Illawarra].

“I didn’t understand (what they were saying), I was very uncomfortable because I was scared.”

Mr Mishra then told the court how Singh initially fled the scene after he had careered into the group before crashing into a pole at around 10.30pm.

“The car was very smoky, it felt like the engine came into the car,” he said.

“I took off my seat belt and got out of the car. Jaskaran saw the people and turned around and ran away or walked fast – he looked at them and ran away.

Libby Ruge's family visit the site where she was run down by a vehicle outside the Collegians Club in Wollongong. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Bullard

Mr Mishra said he was initially arrested and put behind bars at Wollongong Police Station before a senior officer released him only a few minutes later.

During the cross examination defence barrister Ben Hart pushed Mr Mishra on his relationship with Sharma as well as his ability to assess Singh’s driving ability given he didn’t hold a driver’s license.

“We are not really friends with [Sharma], I knew him already because I was working in a car wash with him,” he said.

“I mean he is not a professional driver, no control over braking or accelerating. I am a mechanical engineer, sitting in the car I could feel if he was a good driver or not.”

The court also heard from multiple other citizens who witnessed the crash with one telling jurors how he thought the car had collided with a dog.

Libby Ruge, 19, was killed when a car struck her on a November night two years ago. Picture: Instagram

“I was at my unit watching the football,” Steven Davis said.

“The Wallabies were about to lose so I had to leave the room. I was walking towards town and I knew there were surf shops near there and I wanted to see the wet suits they had. I went there and turned when I heard the car screeching.

“I looked up and saw something get hit and saw someone flying through the air. My initial reaction was it was a dog, then I realised it was not a dog. I stopped the nearest car and asked them to get help before I ran straight to the scene.

“The screech went for a fairly little while, the person flew a fair distance – it sounded like the longest lockup I’ve ever heard.”

The trial continues.