Title: Driver High on Ice Breaks Down in Court After Deadly Crash, Takes Responsibility
A Victorian driver, Corey Comport, was overcome with emotion and wept openly in court as he admitted to a devastating truth – he should never have been behind the wheel. His admission came after a horrific crash that claimed the life of a beloved father, Nirvair Singh, while Comport was under the influence of ice (methamphetamine).
The collision occurred on August 30th last year on the Bulla-Diggers Rest Road, just northwest of Melbourne. Comport, traveling at an alarming speed of nearly 170 km/h, crashed into a jeep, causing it to collide with a Toyota Kluger driven by Nirvair Singh. The impact resulted in fatal head and chest injuries for Singh, leaving his family and community shattered.
In court on Monday, Comport pled guilty in the Victorian County Court to culpable driving leading to the 44-year-old man’s untimely death. The devastating loss experienced by Nirvair Singh’s wife, Harpreet Kaur, was palpable as she expressed how her life had been forever altered.
Through tearful testimony, Harpreet Kaur revealed that memories of her late husband consumed her thoughts every moment. The void left in her heart seemed impossible to fill, and she shared the burden of being a single parent to their two young sons while struggling to cope with her grief.
Their young boys also submitted victim impact statements to the court, poignantly expressing how much they missed their father. Their lives had become quiet, devoid of the joy their father once brought. They faced the hardships of life without his guidance and love.
Meanwhile, seated at the back of the courtroom, Corey Comport quietly sobbed as he heard the family’s heart-wrenching statements. The court learned that Comport had been driving at an excessive speed of 168 km/h in an 80 km/h zone at the time of the accident. Prior to the crash, he had evaded police twice within the preceding 30 minutes. Several drivers, later interviewed by the police, reported being frightened as Comport recklessly cut through lanes, overtaking them.
To compound the tragedy, a roadside drug test revealed that Comport was not only under the influence of ice but also GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine. The driver of the jeep, who miraculously escaped serious injury, struggled with her own trauma and detailed how the crash had cast a long, dark shadow over her once fulfilling existence.
In a heartbreaking discussion with Indigenous elders, Comport admitted his deep regret for the fatal crash, acknowledging that it should never have happened. He took the opportunity to apologize to Nirvair Singh’s family and friends, expressing his remorse and acknowledging his terrible mistake.
Comport acknowledged that he had been granted chances in the past and expressed a desire to turn his life around and become a better person once released from prison. The 24-year-old is planning to relocate to a different state with his brother and is determined to distance himself from drugs and negative influences.
County Court Judge Scott Johns adjourned the case, allowing for further psychological assessment before a final plea hearing in December. Comport was remanded in custody until his next court appearance.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can occur when individuals succumb to the influence of drugs and make dangerous choices. The court proceedings offer a glimpse into the immeasurable pain experienced by Nirvair Singh’s family and the enduring impact on their lives. Aware of the gravity of his actions, Corey Comport now faces the consequences of a moment’s lapse in judgment that has forever changed the lives of everyone involved.
