Nick Bollea was led off to begin his sentence immediately after Friday's ruling. He will be on five years' probation and lose his driving privileges for three years.

Authorities say Bollea was racing a friend in his father's sports car when he clipped a curb, spun out of control and slammed into a palm tree in downtown Clearwater, Florida, last August.

The impact left his friend critically injured and in need of lifetime medical care.

Bollea pleaded no contest to the reckless driving charge. - AP