BY ALYSSA MCCANN // SEPT. 13, 2014 //

About 50 friends and family members of Evan Bard, a Curry nursing student who died in an automobile accident in May 2013, gathered in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham Friday afternoon in search of closure.

Sean Jackman

Sean Jackman, who formerly attended Curry and played on the baseball team, struck a deal in the case and pleaded guilty to motor vehicular homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol. Jackman and Bard were returning together from a wedding when Jackman’s speeding car struck a tree.

Jackman was sentenced Friday to three to five years in state prison. Six days of his sentence will be suspended due to time served before making bail, according to the District Attorney’s office.

If he was found guilty on all previous charges, Jackman could have been sentenced to up to 20 years.

Family members were brought to tears in court Friday as prosecutors read graphic descriptions of the crash scene in Canton where Bard died. Most of Bard’s friends and family members wore pink, Evan’s favorite color.

Various family members read statements in court to Jackman. He also read a statement, which included a tear-filled apology to Bard’s family. “I am so sorry that I took her away from you,” he said.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the 1 ½ years Jackman served under house arrest awaiting trial would count toward fulfilling his sentence. It will not.