LITTLE ROCK (AP) - A southern Arkansas legislator struck a deal with the Jefferson County prosecutor Tuesday to pay a $100 fine and avoid a trial on negligent homicide and reckless driving charges in the deaths of three stranded motorists on an icy stretch of Interstate 530.

Rep. Johnny Bolin, D-Crossett, agreed to plead no contest to careless and prohibited driving, a traffic violation, in exchange for the prosecutor dismissing all three counts of negligent homicide with which Bolin was charged after the February 2003 deaths. Bolin's lawyer, Wayne Juneau of Pine Bluff, and the prosecutor disclosed the agreement Tuesday.

Prosecutor Stevan Dalrymple said Bolin's lawyer challenged an expert witness put forth by the state and convinced Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis to disallow the testimony. The state expert had put the speed of Bolin's vehicle at between 64 mph and 68 mph. Bolin told police after the crash that he was going between 55 mph and 60 mph.

Bolin, 60, was scheduled to go on trial Thursday in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

He had pleaded innocent in the deaths, which occurred when the state House member lost control of his vehicle and it careened onto the median, killing April Weeks, 23, of Star City and Jefferson residents Shawn Albert Storz, 25, and Angela Brooke Storz, 22.

The two-term legislator is running unopposed for a third term in the November election.

Bolin faced up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine on each of the negligent homicide counts if convicted. Under the settlement, approved by Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis, he is to pay a $100 fine, $150 in court costs and a $50 sheriff's fee for service of paperwork in the case.

"My client didn't ever admit to anything. This means he's not contesting the charges," Juneau said. "Based on the offer that was given to us, I felt like it was in his best interest to accept that offer rather than go to trial."