Man Who Jumped from Moving Car at 80 MPH Found Guilty of Manslaughter

The manslaughter conviction came down against a Georgia man who, while driving on a highway, leaped out of his car, killing everyone in the crash.

In a news statement, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office revealed that on April 24, a jury found 45-year-old Kristopher Graf guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The district attorney claims that on the evening of January 14, 2022, Graf was riding shotgun with his wife, Stacy Edwards, who was also far under the legal drinking limit. They were returning from a party. According to the district attorney, Graf “flung himself from the moving vehicle” while traveling westbound on I-80 at about 80 mph. This caused a multi-vehicle crash that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and significant injuries to multiple others.

The district attorney claims that Graf suffered “numerous injuries” as he sprang into the highway and crashed into the center of the roadway. A semitruck driver swerved to avoid him, but in doing so, he crashed into a van with five people. As a result of the collision, two individuals riding in the vehicle were “ejected” onto the road.

Because of injuries sustained in the collision, the van driver had to have a leg amputated.

On the spot, one of the ejected passengers succumbed to their injuries. Additionally, another traveler who was hurt but managed to stay in the vehicle passed away. There was another individual in the van who was “severely injured.”

According to Edwards, who spoke with officials upon their arrival, Graf had begun drinking before the gathering they had both attended that night. On suspicion of DUI, the responding police officers detained Edwards, who they believed to be intoxicated as well. The blood-alcohol concentration of Edwards was determined to be.137, which is significantly higher than the legal limit of.08.

“The absurd recklessness demonstrated by these defendants resulted in a chain reaction that took and altered numerous lives that day,” wrote District Attorney Dalia Racine in a statement. We hope the jury’s decision will aid in their search for closure and healing, even if it cannot restore the lives lost or fix the life-altering injuries sustained.

After pleading guilty to driving under the influence charges, Edwards received a 12-month probationary term. As part of her plea deal, she consented to testify against her husband.

Prior to his arrest, Graf was sent to a hospital. Severe recklessness and two counts of involuntary manslaughter were brought against him.