Libby Ruge’s brave family ‘find peace’ at scene of tragic crash

The heartbroken family of a teen killed in a horrific crash at Wollongong have opened up about how she had ‘the purest of hearts’ as they revisited the scene where she died.

Libby Ruge's family visit the scene of the horrific crash that claimed the 19-year-old’s life. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Clutching their daughter’s teddy bear and a pair of her shoes, two heartbroken mums returned to the scene of a freak crash that claimed their girl’s life.

Julie Harrison and Julie Ruge returned to Flinders Street in Wollongong on Thursday, almost two weeks after their 19-year-old daughter Libby Ruge was hit and killed while enjoying a night out with her boyfriend Luke and two of their friends.

19-year-old Libby Ruge. Picture: Instagram

Ms Ruge sobbed and was comforted by family as she and Ms Harrison laid a bouquet of sunflowers on the footpath where their daughter spent her final moments.

Comforted by the teddy gifted to Libby by her high school sweetheart Luke, and the sneakers she was wearing the night she died, Ms Ruge left a card for her daughter, written by her and Ms Harrison.

“My darling Libby,” the card read, “we are so proud of you. We will love you forever. Until we meet again, Mummy and Jules.”

Libby’s older sister, Stevie Shanahan, and cousin Colby Rhodes comforted Libby’s mums on Thursday as they made the brave walk along Flinders Street.

“I’m just trying to be strong for my mum,” Ms Shanahan said. “I just feel numb, I don't think it’s actually hit me yet. She was my baby sister.”

Libby Ruge's mum Julie Ruge (left), her older sister Stevie Shanahan and mum Julie Harrison (right) lay flowers on Flinders Street on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

“Mum hasn't let that (teddy bear) go. She’s carrying Libby’s shoes and her teddy everywhere she goes. She can’t function without them.”

Through her tears, Ms Shanahan laughed as she described her little sister, a former Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts student, who graduated last year and was on a gap year before planning to study dentistry.

“She was a brat. She always got her own way, but she was the purest of hearts,” she said.

“Libby used to always say ‘I love you’ every single time she walked out the door or when she hung up the phone. So tell your loved ones you love them every chance you get.”

The letter left to Libby written by her mums. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

Libby’s life was celebrated by hundreds of mourners at in-person and live-streamed services on Tuesday, in a beautiful ceremony full of flowers and happy memories.

“Lib wasn’t going to get a wedding so her mums wanted to make sure that she got that beautiful day full of love and flowers and stories,” her big sister said.

“We didn’t wear black, we all dressed up really nicely because we wanted it to be beautiful.”

Libby’s cousin Colby said the family made the brave choice to visit the scene of the crash in effort to find peace after their world was turned upside down on the night of November 7.

Libby’s family arrive at the scene of the crash on Flinders Street, Wollongong. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

“It was important for us to see how it is down here for our own piece of mind,” she said.

“Your imagination can be a lot more confronting than actually coming down here and finding that peace, and seeing where our girl ended her beautiful life.”

Two young men have been charged over Ms Ruge’s death, after police allege the drunk passenger pulled up the handbrake of the car, causing the driver to lose control and plough into Libby and her friends.

While her family still can’t comprehend what happened that night, Ms Rhodes said while it “sounded cliche, Lib was always too good for this place”.