He has seen countless cars travel at great speed along the straight stretch of Cleveland Road which passes within metres of the front door of his white weatherboard cottage. He says he hears cars doing burnouts in the area “on a weekly basis”.

But on Tuesday, the 53-year-old told Wollongong District Court he’d never seen a vehicle going as fast as the Honda Civic Dylan Dahl was driving in the early hours of December 2, 2016.

Read more: Barrack Heights man faces trial over fatal West Dapto crash

The Crown alleges Dahl was “joy riding” when he lost control of the Civic on a bend down the road from Mr Robinson’s house. The vehicle left the roadway, careered through a wire fence and slammed into a tree before bursting into flames.

Nearby residents were able to drag Dahl to safety, however his 18-year-old passenger, Jayke Robinson perished in the fire.

Dahl was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

In court on Tuesday, Mr Robinson (no relation to the deceased) recalled waking prior to the crash to the sound of burnouts being performed in the direction of the high school, but admitted he couldn’t tell how many vehicles were involved or identify them.

He said he went outside a few minutes later when he heard “a small motor revving at really high revs”.

Mr Robinson initially described seeing a “hatchback” approach and pass by his driveway at a speed of about 100km/h before losing sight of it as it headed west.

However, under questioning from Dahl’s barrister, Mr Robinson admitted the car was already past his driveway when he got outside and he’d only seen its taillights.

He also conceded he hadn’t been able to tell police the body type of the car when interviewed 11 days after the crash. Mr Robinson said he returned inside but came out again a short time later when he heard more burnouts, then a revving engine.

He said he saw a car drive past the house “very, very fast”, estimating the speed at “well over 140km/hr” before seeing the vehicle’s break lights come on as it went over a crest just before the bend.

“I waited for a few minutes because I thought there’s no way the car would make the corner,” he said.

“Shortly after that I heard some voices. I saw flames starting to come up.”

Mr Robinson agreed with suggestions from Dahl’s lawyer that his estimation of the speed the vehicle was travelling at was “only really guess work”.

”You could have been wrong in your estimation of the car’s speed that night,” defence barrister Hugh White said.

“Agreed,” Mr Robinson responded.

The trial continues.