Man 'on ice' before Melbourne triple fatal crash

A man accused of killing three people in a Melbourne crash after speeding through a red light knows he is going to prison for a long time, a court has heard.

Brazilian national Nei Lima DaCosta, 29, is accused of fatally running over pedestrian Anthony Parsons at Oakleigh on Sunday, before losing control of his car and ploughing into a Ford sedan, killing married couple Inimi and Savvas Menelaou.

Another three people were injured, including the Ford driver, who remains in a critical condition in hospital.

DaCosta ran a number of red lights and was travelling at 120km/h - some 40km/h over the speed limit - when he hit Mr Parsons, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told on Tuesday.

Detective Sergeant Mark Amos told a bail hearing that DaCosta, who admits being addicted to ice, had traces of methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash.

He said road safety cameras and witness accounts indicated that DaCosta had been driving dangerously for at least a kilometre before the crash.

Defence lawyer Lisa Mendicino said DaCosta, who has a wife and infant daughter, wanted to sort out his affairs before entering custody.

"He knows it's of certainty that he will be spending a lot of time in jail," she told the court.

DaCosta has been charged with three counts of culpable driving, three of negligently causing serious injury and one of reckless conduct endangering life.

Det Sgt Amos said DaCosta, who is also accused of travelling 45km/h over the speed limit through Melbourne's Burnley Tunnel last April, posed an unacceptable risk of driving dangerously.

"He presents so great a risk that the potential could be even more catastrophic," he said.

Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg adjourned the bail hearing until Wednesday.