By Brad Segall

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) — A Horsham Township man will spend at least four years in state prison after admitting in Montgomery County Court that he caused a crash last August that killed two of his best friends and tore apart five families — and an entire community.

Connor McNicholas tearfully told the families who lost their sons, “There are no excuses for what I did that night.  I lost two of my best friends.”

McNicholas was driving 97 mph, under the influence of alcohol, when he lost control of his car near Witmer and Norristown Roads in Horsham (see previous story).

Now, the 20-year-old man was sentenced to four to eight years.

Eric Coombs lost his son Edward that night, and says his family lost their heartbeat.

“I don’t know if there’s any sense of closure,” he said after today’s sentencing.  “It’s just a chapter that comes to an end.  I mean, the longer that this dragged out, the longer the wound didn’t have a chance to heal.”

Robert Nagel was also killed that night.  Two other passengers and McNicholas were injured.  He pleaded guilty to homicide-by-vehicle, DUI, reckless endangerment, and motor vehicle violations.