A teenager has been taken into custody after he admitted causing the deaths of five students, who were killed when his vehicle slammed into two trees.

Tyrell Edwards, 19, pleaded guilty to five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death at Picton Local Court on Thursday after the high-speed tragedy at Buxton, southwest of Sydney, on September 6 last year.

The teen was behind the wheel of a silver Nissan Navara that crashed into two trees, killing five Picton High School students aged between 14 and 16 who were crammed into the vehicle.

Lily Van De Putte and Gabby McLennan, both 14, Summer Williams and Tyrese Bechard, both 15, and Antonio Desisto, 16, all died in the crash.

Edwards suffered minor injuries.

“The aggravated dangerous driving was particularly egregious in that it was dangerous driving repeated over a period of time ultimately leading to the loss of control of the vehicle,” Magistrate David Degnan said on Thursday.

He described the event as a “tragic incident”, acknowledging the pain of family members in court.

“I’m cognisant of the fact there are many members of the victims’ families and friends here at court. And I acknowledge the loss that they have suffered.”

Five lesser charges of dangerous driving occasioning death were withdrawn.

After the guilty pleas, Edward’s solicitor Karen Watson unsuccessfully opposed an application by prosecutors to revoke her client’s bail and send him into custody.

Ms Watson argued Edwards needed to remain out of jail to undergo psychiatric treatment for PTSD and major depressive disorder caused after the crash.

Mr Degnan found that this did not amount to special or exceptional circumstances which could allow Edwards to stay out on bail given that he would definitely face a full-time prison sentence.

The courtroom was then closed and family members of the victims asked to leave before Edwards himself was escorted to a waiting police vehicle.

Outside court, Lily’s father John told reporters he and the other parents could not move forwards with their lives and were living that tragic day over and over again.

“I wake up every morning thinking about her and go to sleep thinking about her. It’s going to be in my mind every day,” he said.

“It’s something we will never get over.”

Mr Van De Putte said traffic laws needed to be tougher and parents needed to speak to their kids about safety while behind the wheel.

The case has now been committed for sentence and will return to Campbelltown District Court on August 24.

– AAP