James Guzman, 21, has pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing the death of Jarryd Currie, 28, at Burnside Heights, in Melbourne's northwest in July 2019.

Guzman was driving on the wrong side of the road at 112km/h in a 60-zone during the night. He called triple-zero and remained at the scene following the incident.

Mr Currie's mother Karen on Friday said family was "everything" to him and by now he would have been a proud uncle to his sister's child.

"Time hasn't healed the pain of losing my child - part of me died that day too," Mrs Currie said in a statement read to the Victorian County Court.

"No parent should ever have to bury their child."

Mr Currie's sister Jayde said she cried after her partner proposed as her younger brother wasn't there to share the moment.

"This is something taken away from Jarryd and myself through no fault of his own," she said.

"I will forever miss my brother and my heart will forever be broken."

Judge Damian Murphy said a strong signal had to be sent to people who drive powerful cars and that Guzman would spend a significant amount of time behind bars.

Crown prosecutor Catherine Parkes said Guzman had been driving in a "negligent manner" for about 2.5km before the crash in a residential area.

Guzman's lawyer Barnaby Johnston said the 21-year-old suffers regular flashbacks of the incident and had since been diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

"He lives with a sense of terror and profound guilt," Mr Johnston said.

"My client was responsible for the death of another human being and he will have to deal with that for the rest of his life."

Mr Johnston also said Guzman, who once applied to join Victoria Police, had shown remorse and hoped to become a social worker upon his release from prison.

Guzman has been remanded in custody and will next face court for sentencing on March 12.

Australian Associated Press