By . Associated Press . A New York City teenager who admitted smoking marijuana and speeding before crashing into a tree in 2012, killing four of his friends on Long Island, was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison on Tuesday. The judge decided against a four-year youthful offender sentence for Joseph Beer, who was 17 at the time of the crash. Beer, now 19, of Queens, pleaded guilty in July to the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide in the fiery crash on the Southern State Parkway. A month earlier, a jury had deadlocked on the charge, but Beer decided to plead guilty to spare the families of his friends who died the ordeal of a second trial, his attorney said. PRISON: Joseph Beer was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for the 2012 crash that killed four of his friends . Horror crash: This is what Beer's car looked like after Beer lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree in Long Island . Beer also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana. Defense attorney Todd Greenberg has argued that unlike blood-alcohol standards for drunken driving, police and prosecutors have yet to develop a reliable measurement for impairment from marijuana. An expert testified that because Beer was a chronic marijuana smoker, his body's ability to process the active ingredient in marijuana may be different from someone who is an occasional user. 'We never denied that there was some responsibility,' Greenberg said during the trial. But the defense 'always maintained that Joseph Beer was not impaired, and the impairment by marijuana did not cause this accident,' he added. Prosecutors said Beer was driving faster than 100 mph when he smashed into a tree on a stretch of highway dubbed Dead Man's Curve because of a treacherous hill that leads to a sharp curve. The spectacular crash at about 4 a.m. on the Columbus Day holiday in October 2012 cut the high-performance Subaru in half, killing the four boys instantly. Tragedy: (Clockwise from top) Darian Ramnarine, . Christopher Khan, Peter Kanhai and Neal Rajaba were all 18-years-old . when they were killed in a horrific early-morning crash in Long Island . in October 2012 . Glass, debris and other car parts were strewn along a wooded area adjacent to a nearby neighborhood street, where neighbors described being awakened by the sound of a loud explosion. Beer was the lone survivor and had only minor injuries. Bryant Barr, stepfather of victim Peter Kanhai, said after the sentencing that it was 'a tragedy on both sides,' including for Beer's family. Barr said his family 'can find forgiveness in our heart' even though Beer exhibited 'a lack of remorse.' 'This is a learning experience for other people out there that consequences will follow for the act that you do,' said Barr, adding that he hopes Beer will 'be able to do something better with his life' after prison. Authorities load onto a flatbed the wreckage of the vehicle that killed four 18-year-olds on the Southern State Parkway in Long Island . Here are the remains of the black 2012 Subaru Imprezza that crossed two lanes of traffic before hitting the hard shoulder and then several trees .
Joseph Beer was 17 when he crashed into a tree in Long Island and killed four of his friends .
Beer, now 19, admitted to smoking marijuana and speeding before the accident .
A judge decided against sentencing him to just four years as a youthful offender .
By . Associated Press . A New York City teenager who admitted smoking marijuana and speeding before crashing into a tree in 2012, killing four of his friends on Long Island, was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison on Tuesday. The judge decided against a four-year youthful offender sentence for Joseph Beer, who was 17 at the time of the crash. Beer, now 19, of Queens, pleaded guilty in July to the top count of aggravated vehicular homicide in the fiery crash on the Southern State Parkway. A month earlier, a jury had deadlocked on the charge, but Beer decided to plead guilty to spare the families of his friends who died the ordeal of a second trial, his attorney said. PRISON: Joseph Beer was sentenced to five to 15 years in prison for the 2012 crash that killed four of his friends . Horror crash: This is what Beer's car looked like after Beer lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree in Long Island . Beer also pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of marijuana. Defense attorney Todd Greenberg has argued that unlike blood-alcohol standards for drunken driving, police and prosecutors have yet to develop a reliable measurement for impairment from marijuana. An expert testified that because Beer was a chronic marijuana smoker, his body's ability to process the active ingredient in marijuana may be different from someone who is an occasional user. 'We never denied that there was some responsibility,' Greenberg said during the trial. But the defense 'always maintained that Joseph Beer was not impaired, and the impairment by marijuana did not cause this accident,' he added. Prosecutors said Beer was driving faster than 100 mph when he smashed into a tree on a stretch of highway dubbed Dead Man's Curve because of a treacherous hill that leads to a sharp curve. The spectacular crash at about 4 a.m. on the Columbus Day holiday in October 2012 cut the high-performance Subaru in half, killing the four boys instantly. Tragedy: (Clockwise from top) Darian Ramnarine, . Christopher Khan, Peter Kanhai and Neal Rajaba were all 18-years-old . when they were killed in a horrific early-morning crash in Long Island . in October 2012 . Glass, debris and other car parts were strewn along a wooded area adjacent to a nearby neighborhood street, where neighbors described being awakened by the sound of a loud explosion. Beer was the lone survivor and had only minor injuries. Bryant Barr, stepfather of victim Peter Kanhai, said after the sentencing that it was 'a tragedy on both sides,' including for Beer's family. Barr said his family 'can find forgiveness in our heart' even though Beer exhibited 'a lack of remorse.' 'This is a learning experience for other people out there that consequences will follow for the act that you do,' said Barr, adding that he hopes Beer will 'be able to do something better with his life' after prison. Authorities load onto a flatbed the wreckage of the vehicle that killed four 18-year-olds on the Southern State Parkway in Long Island . Here are the remains of the black 2012 Subaru Imprezza that crossed two lanes of traffic before hitting the hard shoulder and then several trees .
who admitted smoking marijuana and speeding before crashing into a tree in 2012, killing four of his friends on Long Island, was sentenced to 5 decided against a four-year youthful offender of the crash. Beer, now 19, of Queens, pleaded that killed four of his friends . Horror crash: