Driver jailed over 'impossibly sad' teens crash tragedy

Scoffs and tears came from the gallery as Judge Christopher O'Brien sentenced Tyrell Edwards to 12 years with a non-parole period of seven years on Friday, his 20th birthday.

The high-speed crash he caused after "an extended, sustained and deliberate" period of "erratic and aggressive" driving killed Picton High School students Antonio Desisto, Gabby McLennan, Tyrese Bechard, Lily Van de Putte and Summer Williams.

"I'm gonna go to jail," Edwards was heard saying after climbing from the wreckage of a Nissan Navara he was driving at almost double the speed limit when he crashed into two trees at Buxton, southwest of Sydney, on September 6, 2022.

His licence, suspended for speeding offences, was reissued less than six weeks earlier.

Leaving court, Gabby McLennan's mother Samantha said her heart dropped when she heard the "unfair" sentence.

Antonio Desisto's father Exaven said the sentence "stinks" and he would not wish the same agony on any parent.

"We've got children who have passed away ... we're the ones who get the life sentence now so it's just absolutely disgusting," he said.

Family members told the court of their devastating loss at a hearing in November.

Some offered forgiveness, while others said it would never come.

The judge said he regarded their statements as powerful expressions of their indescribable grief and raw emotional torment, but which could not interfere with his sentencing discretion when relatives of the victims and Edwards returned to the NSW District Court at Campbelltown on Friday.

"This is a tragic and impossibly sad case," the judge opened, as some onlookers wiped away tears.

Edwards in August pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, which entitled him to a 25 per cent discount on sentencing.

The judge also found special circumstances to bring forward his potential release.

Edwards sped to overtake another car on the wrong side of the road and was travelling about 118km/h when he crashed.

The dual-cab ute hit a tree, rebounded and slammed into another, tearing open the rear cabin and ejecting four of the teenagers.

Those killed in the crash were aged between 14 and 16.

"Their deaths were completely avoidable and responsibility for them lies squarely at the feet of (Edwards)," the judge said.

Edwards accepted responsibility and was truly remorseful, the judge said.

"I can't understand how unfair it is that I survived," Edwards said in a statement.

His sentence was backdated for time spent in custody and he is eligible for parole from July 11, 2030.

Lily Van de Putte's father John said he could not forgive Edwards but had sympathy for him and his family.

"They weren't the ones driving the vehicle ... he needs to be held responsible for that," he said.

The seven-year minimum sentence "hurts" but he was not surprised after talking to victim support groups.

Road Trauma Support Group NSW co-founder Duncan Wakes-Miller said they stand with the families and called for law reform.

"We believe the current laws around road crime are outdated and unfit for purpose," he told AAP.

Premier Chris Minns said the government was working on it.

He declined to comment on Edwards' sentence, but offered his condolences to the families of the teenagers killed in the crash.

"It's obviously terrible and they must be hurting right now," he said.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the crash was one of the worst in recent memory, with speed the cause.

Potential laws aimed at vehicular manslaughter and vehicular homicide could influence community sentiment through harsher language alone, he said.

But no sentence would be satisfactory for a family who had lost a young life.

"Ultimately, the nature of the sentence is a matter for the director of public prosecutions to consider," Mr McFadden said.

Prosecutors have 28 days to appeal.

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Australian Associated Press