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Jason Karvois DUI Sentence: The Case, the Law, and the Lessons Behind a Tragic Florida Crash

preyankasawame@gmail.com November 2, 2025

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In the quiet hours of a December night in 2022, a Florida cyclist lost his life in what investigators described as a violent collision involving a heavily intoxicated driver. That driver, Jason Ryan Karvois, is now the focus of a criminal case that has drawn attention across Palm Beach County. While the legal process is still underway, the case has already become a stark example of how alcohol-impaired driving continues to destroy lives — both of victims and offenders.

This article explores the full story: what happened that night, the charges, the evidence, the potential sentence, and what the case means for Florida’s justice system and for public safety.

The night of the crash

On December 9, 2022, around 8:30 p.m., police and paramedics were called to Okeechobee Boulevard near Sansburys Way, in the unincorporated community west of West Palm Beach. A passerby had reported a bicycle and a man lying in the roadway. When first responders arrived, they found Foad Makhmoor, a 61-year-old resident and avid cyclist, severely injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses later told investigators that a white Ford pickup had been seen leaving the area shortly after the collision. Police traced the vehicle to Jason Karvois, a 40-something man who lived nearby in the Acreage area. Officers found the truck parked a short distance away with visible damage to the front end and windshield.

When they approached Karvois, they said he appeared visibly impaired — unsteady on his feet, slurring his speech, and seemingly disoriented. His eyes were glassy. Officers reported that he had difficulty understanding questions. Two separate blood draws were later taken, showing blood-alcohol levels of 0.306 and 0.259 g/100 mL, over three times Florida’s legal limit of 0.08.

Inside the truck, police found several empty vodka bottles, prescription medication, and what appeared to be a small plastic bag containing cocaine. They also reported finding two firearms.

The victim: a life cut short

Foad Makhmoor’s friends described him as quiet, disciplined, and passionate about cycling. He was riding in a designated bike lane, wearing safety gear, and following traffic laws when he was struck. For those who knew him, the tragedy was made worse by the fact that he had done everything right — yet still became the victim of another person’s reckless decision.

His death sparked renewed calls in the community for stronger enforcement of DUI laws and more protection for cyclists. Palm Beach County has one of Florida’s higher rates of bicycle-related fatalities, and advocates say impaired driving remains a major cause.

The charges

In May 2023, prosecutors formally charged Jason Karvois with:

DUI Manslaughter (Florida Statute § 316.193(3)(c)(3))
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Death (Florida Statute § 316.027(2)(c))

Karvois pleaded not guilty to both charges. The case, filed under Palm Beach County Circuit Court case number 50-2023-CF-003830-AXXX-MB, remains open as of the most recent records.

If convicted, Karvois faces extremely severe penalties.

Understanding the law

DUI Manslaughter

Under Florida law, DUI manslaughter occurs when a person, while driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, causes the death of another human being. It is a second-degree felony, punishable by:

Up to 15 years in prison
Up to 15 years of probation
A fine of up to $10,000
Permanent revocation of driver’s license

The Florida Criminal Punishment Code assigns DUI manslaughter a level 8 offense severity ranking, which gives it a minimum permissible sentence of about 10 years even before any aggravating factors are added.

Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash

Florida treats leaving the scene of a fatal crash — commonly known as hit-and-run causing death — as a first-degree felony, punishable by:

Up to 30 years in prison
Up to 30 years of probation
A fine of up to $10,000

Under Florida law, drivers involved in a crash must immediately stop, stay at the scene, and render aid if someone is injured. Leaving without doing so is considered an act of moral indifference and often punished more harshly than the crash itself.

The evidence

According to the arrest affidavit, officers documented a chain of physical and chemical evidence:

The vehicle: Karvois’ truck showed fresh front-end damage consistent with a bicycle impact.
The victim’s bicycle: Found mangled along the right-hand shoulder. Paint transfers and broken headlight glass linked to the truck.
Blood-alcohol tests: Two readings (0.306 and 0.259) confirmed severe intoxication.
Scene reconstruction: Investigators concluded the cyclist was lawfully riding in the bike lane when struck from behind.
Behavioral signs: Slurred speech, inability to stand, and incoherence were noted by responding officers.
Physical evidence in the car: Empty vodka containers, suspected drugs, prescription pills, and firearms.

If proven in court, this evidence paints a devastating picture for the defense. The combination of high intoxication, fatality, and leaving the scene represents one of the most serious forms of DUI behavior under Florida law.

Possible defenses

While every defendant is presumed innocent, Karvois’ legal team may attempt to challenge the evidence in several ways:

Questioning the blood draw procedure: Defense may argue improper handling or timing of samples that led to inflated BAC readings.
Challenging causation: They could claim the victim’s actions or environmental factors contributed to the crash.
Chain of custody issues: If the evidence (bottles, bag, or firearms) was not handled or documented correctly, it could be ruled inadmissible.
Mental-state argument: In rare cases, defense may argue that impairment was unintentional due to prescribed medications or unexpected reactions.

However, given the reported BAC and scene evidence, most legal observers believe the prosecution’s case is strong.

The human cost of drunk driving

DUI manslaughter cases always involve two tragedies. The first is the death of the victim — a loss that devastates families and communities. The second is the self-inflicted ruin of the driver’s own life and future.

In Florida alone, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), alcohol-related crashes kill more than 400 people every year. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that one person dies every 39 minutes in the United States from an alcohol-impaired crash.

The numbers have remained stubbornly high despite decades of campaigns, education, and stricter laws. Many experts point out that deterrence alone doesn’t work unless it’s backed by consistent enforcement and cultural change.

How Florida courts approach sentencing

Florida judges use the Criminal Punishment Code (CPC) to calculate a sentencing “score.” Points are assigned based on the offense level, victim injury, prior record, and aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

In a DUI manslaughter case with no prior record, the guideline minimum sentence is around 124.5 points, which translates to roughly 10.3 years of imprisonment. However, judges can impose longer terms if aggravating factors exist — and in this case, several do:

Very high BAC
Leaving the scene (a separate but related charge)
Presence of possible drugs and firearms
Death of a law-abiding cyclist in a designated lane

These factors could easily push the sentence beyond the minimum, especially if the court orders the terms to run consecutively rather than concurrently.

What similar cases show

Examining other Florida DUI manslaughter cases gives a sense of what might happen:

State v. John Goodman (2014) — Wellington polo executive convicted of DUI manslaughter, sentenced to 16 years in prison after causing a fatal crash with a BAC of 0.177.
State v. Heather Cook (2015) — Former Baltimore bishop (out-of-state but comparable) received seven years for killing a cyclist while intoxicated and texting.
State v. Kaitlyn Ferrante case (2013) — Drunk driver killed two women on Miami’s MacArthur Causeway, sentenced to 22 years.

Based on these precedents, if convicted, Karvois’ likely sentence could fall anywhere between 10 and 25 years, depending on plea negotiations, remorse shown, and judicial discretion.

Public reaction and moral dimension

Local media coverage and public comments show a mix of anger and sadness. Many residents view the case as a preventable tragedy that could have been avoided with a single responsible choice — not to drive drunk.

Cycling advocates in Palm Beach County have organized safety rides and memorials for Foad Makhmoor, calling for tougher enforcement of DUI laws and better separation between bike lanes and traffic lanes.

The moral question at the heart of this case is simple but painful: how can a person, knowing the risks, still get behind the wheel after drinking to such an extreme level?

The role of addiction and accountability

Many DUI offenders are not hardened criminals but individuals struggling with alcohol dependency. Courts sometimes order treatment programs, but in fatal cases, rehabilitation alone rarely satisfies the demand for justice.

Experts say the challenge is balancing punishment with rehabilitation. A sentence should protect the public, hold the offender accountable, and also offer a chance for change. In Florida, defendants convicted of DUI manslaughter are usually required to undergo substance-abuse counseling both during and after incarceration.

For Karvois, his future may depend not only on the verdict but on whether he accepts responsibility. Judges often weigh genuine remorse heavily when deciding the length of a prison term.

The emotional toll on families

For the Makhmoor family, the legal process is not about vengeance but closure. Losing a loved one in a crash caused by impaired driving leaves scars that never fully heal.

Families often describe feelings of disbelief, anger, and helplessness. They must endure court hearings, delays, and the repeated retelling of traumatic details. Victim-impact statements, read at sentencing, are one of the few opportunities they have to express the depth of that loss in front of the person responsible.

For offenders’ families, the experience is also devastating. Watching a loved one face years or decades in prison is emotionally shattering. DUI tragedies, in that sense, rarely have winners.

Why these cases matter

Every DUI manslaughter prosecution serves as a warning and a test. It warns others of the consequences of impaired driving, and it tests how well the justice system can deliver both fairness and deterrence.

The Karvois case is especially symbolic because it combines several factors that lawmakers and safety advocates focus on: extreme intoxication, a vulnerable road user, and a suspected hit-and-run. These are the exact conditions that the toughest Florida statutes were written to address.

By pursuing strong penalties, prosecutors aim to send a message — that leaving the scene of a fatal crash will not shield a driver from responsibility.

Looking ahead

Court records show that the case has been active through 2024, with pre-trial hearings and continuances. Until a verdict or plea is entered, Karvois remains presumed innocent.

If he does plead guilty, sentencing will likely depend on how much accountability he shows. A sincere apology, cooperation with investigators, and participation in treatment programs can sometimes reduce a sentence. But the court will also weigh the gravity of the loss.

When the time comes for sentencing, the judge will likely hear from both sides — the prosecution emphasizing the community’s need for justice, and the defense pleading for leniency on the grounds of remorse and rehabilitation potential.

The bigger picture: reform and prevention

Beyond one man’s case lies a wider question: what can be done to prevent this from happening again?

Stricter ignition-interlock use

Florida already requires ignition-interlock devices for certain DUI offenders, but many advocates want to make them mandatory for all first-time offenders. These devices prevent a car from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.

Expanded sobriety checkpoints

Regularly scheduled DUI checkpoints, especially around holiday weekends, have proven effective in reducing drunk-driving incidents.

Public education and outreach

Programs like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) continue to push awareness campaigns that focus on personal stories — real victims and survivors who humanize the statistics.

Community support for victims’ families

Counseling, legal assistance, and financial aid are crucial for those left behind. Strengthening these networks ensures victims are not forgotten after the headlines fade.

Lessons from the case

Every decision counts. One person’s choice to drive impaired can change or end multiple lives.
Accountability is unavoidable. Leaving the scene does not erase responsibility; it deepens it.
Laws are only part of the solution. Prevention depends on culture, awareness, and peer responsibility — not just penalties.
Rehabilitation must accompany punishment. True justice includes efforts to prevent repeat offenses and help offenders confront addiction.
Victims deserve visibility. Cases like this remind society to honor those who followed the rules yet paid the price for someone else’s recklessness.

Conclusion

The case of Jason Karvois is still unfolding, but its lessons are already clear. It highlights the devastating consequences of driving under the influence, the heavy burden of grief borne by victims’ families, and the enduring challenge of balancing justice with compassion.

Whether the court ultimately imposes ten years, twenty, or more, no sentence can bring back Foad Makhmoor. The real hope is that this tragedy prevents others — that every driver who reads about this case thinks twice before turning a key after drinking.

Until the final judgment is handed down, the story stands as a reminder that behind every DUI statistic is a life lost, a family shattered, and a community forever changed.