Man jailed over crash that killed Vic dad

A Victorian driver who killed a young father in a high-speed crash had a history of dangerous driving and was freed from jail just days earlier.

Peter Grayden, 34, was doing at least 32km/h over the limit when he lost control in a roundabout on Phillip Island, smashing into a tree in April 2018.

His passenger, 27-year-old Kyhl Weatherall, was unrestrained and tossed around inside, landing face down on the back seat of the car.

The married father of three small children died at the scene, while Grayden ran off.

His claims he was "dazed and panicked" were rejected by County Court Judge Carolene Gwynn who sentenced him to nine years and 10 months jail on Wednesday.

"You said you believed he was deceased. This is simply not the point," she said.

Grayden, who has four children himself, was ordered to serve six-and-a-half-years before he is eligible for parole.

The two men had met only the day before, bonding over a shared love of cars before using ice together.

Grayden had already been drinking and used cannabis, but there was no evidence his drug use had any effect on his driving, the judge found.

They made plans to go drifting and just before 6am on April 8, 2018 Mr Weatherall gave his new friend his car keys.

Grayden told police Mr Weatherall told him "keep going" because "this is awesome".

He lost control in a 60km/h zone as he tried to negotiate a roundabout, and was estimated to still be doing up to 96km/h when he struck the tree sideways.

Defence lawyers tried to argue that Mr Weatherall was in part responsible for his death because he had handed over the keys and could have asked Grayden to drive responsibly.

But Judge Gwynn said Grayden was responsible for his driving.

Strangers stopped to help after the deadly crash, trying to encourage Grayden from fleeing the scene.

He told one person Mr Weatherall was still in the car, before asking another for a lift home.

Grayden went to a friend's home, telling her he'd dropped Mr Weatherall off.

After hearing of the crash, she assumed it was Mr Weatherall who had fled the scene and feared he would show up at her house.

"He better not or I'll f***ing kill him," Grayden told her. Judge Gwynn condemned the remark.

She said the lengthy sentence she handed down was justified because of his consistent prior history of high-speed offences and jail time for driving charges, including dangerous driving and repeatedly driving while suspended.