A 24-year-old Edwardsville man will have to lecture youth and serve four years of probation for driving drunk in a crash that killed his girlfriend and another young woman.

As part of a plea bargain Wednesday that was approved by the victims' families, Benjamin Nichols avoided jail time.

Nichols was driving drunk Nov. 30 in the crash in Collinsville which claimed the lives of his girlfriend, Tara Wilson, and Courtney Sherfy. The victims, 20-year-olds from Granite City, were passengers in Nichols' vehicle.

Nichols, standing before the bench of Circuit Judge Charles Romani Jr., was given an opportunity to address the women's families.

He turned to face the women's parents and said, "I cannot express to you, your family and friends how sorry I am."