Shock as young driver who was allegedly high on drugs and speeding at the time of a fatal crash applies for bail

The distraught wife of a popular Punjabi singer killed in a horror smash in Melbourne’s northwest has revealed her shock at the young driver’s latest move.

A motorist who survived a horror fatal pileup allegedly caused by a young driver who was high on drugs and speeding says she would be “distraught” if he was granted bail.

Corey Comport was denied bail at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday as he faces charges including dangerous driving causing death over a multi-vehicle crash that killed father-of-two Nirvair Singh, 44, near Bulla, in Melbourne’s northwest, on August 30 last year.

Magistrate Daniel Muling said another motorist who survived the crash was still recovering from her injuries and was “distraught” that Mr Comport had made a bid for freedom.

“She has flashbacks to the incident,” he said.

In submissions to the court, Mr Singh’s wife described the death of her husband, who was a popular Punjabi singer, as “life-changing”.

Father-of-two Nirvair Singh died in the horror crash.

“She is shocked you are applying for bail,” Mr Muling said.

Mr Comport, then 23, was allegedly unlicensed, using drugs including methamphetamine and ketamine and speeding at 168km/h when he smashed his rented Kia Cerato into the back of a Jeep Wrangler on Bulla-Diggers Rest Rd.

Mr Singh died at the scene after the 4WD was pushed into the path of his Toyota Kluger travelling in the opposite direction.

Detective Acting Sergeant Jeremy Nelson told an earlier hearing Mr Comport was being pursued by police and multiple witnesses described him driving erratically and at high speed in the lead-up to the crash.

Nirvair Singh’s wife still has ‘flashbacks to the incident’, the court heard.

One witness described Mr Comport beeping his horn and making a dangerous pass on a blind corner while his partner Rebecca Portelli was in the passenger seat.

“The overtake was suicidal and crazy,” the motorist stated.

“I couldn't believe what I saw.”

Detective Nelson said Mr Comport’s car had been hired on GoGet by his mother and rolled before coming to a rest on its roof following the collision.

Mr Comport’s lawyer Tim Smurthwaite submitted his client did not know he was being chased by police or that he was on bail for other charges at the time.

He added Mr Comport had an intellectual disability, was not receiving mental health treatment for schizophrenia while on remand and was introduced to drugs from a young age.

“He instructs he is suffering deep depression, is unable to sleep and is in a poor state of mental health,” Mr Smurthwaite said.

But Mr Muling said prosecutors had “no confidence” Mr Comport would abide by court orders if he were released.

“You have been charged with a serious example of driving causing death,” Mr Muling said.

Mr Comport was remanded in custody and will return to Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 16.