The crash killed his 21-year-old mate, Dwayne Nicholson, in an instant, and another passenger in his car, a 17-year-old girl, was left with serious internal injuries.

Hazelton confessed all to police that night, admitting he was responsible for his friend's death.

"It's my fault, I lost control," the 24-year-old said, telling officers he'd felt the rear of the car sliding around before the crash as he accelerated along Buttenshaw Drive towards Lawrence Hargrave Drive, and his driving had caused the car to cross to the wrong side of the roadway more than once.

He also said he knew at the time that his front tyres were almost bald, making his manner of driving even more dangerous.

Apparently, sympathetic officers agreed to release Hazelton without charge that night, telling him to come back to speak to them on Monday morning.

But he did not show.

Some time over the weekend, Hazelton vanished, making the decision to run from his family, his friends, his responsibilities, and most of all, from the law.

It would be 14 years before Hazelton would answer for his crimes.

He remained a ghost to police until July 31, 2014, when an anonymous tip-off to Crime Stoppers led police to a home on picturesque Russell Island, east of Brisbane.

There they found a now 39-year-old Hazelton living a seemingly law-abiding life, albeit under a different name.

He was extradited to Sydney and charged with eight offences.

In Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday, Hazelton pleaded guilty to the two main charges - dangerous driving occasioning death, and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Hazelton will be sentenced in Sutherland District Court next month.