Nebraska Appeals Court overturns ruling in Hastings fatal crash case involving teen

Nebraska's Court of Appeals reversed a judge's denial of a juvenile court transfer for Tanner Graf, 18, charged over a 2025 crash that killed a Hastings woman.

Nebraska Appeals Court sends Hastings crash case back to district court

The Nebraska Court of Appeals has reversed a district judge's ruling in a case involving a Hastings teenager charged in connection with a fatal car crash in May 2025, ksnblocal4.com reports.

Tanner Graf, 18, of Hastings, had sought to have his case moved to juvenile court. District Judge Morgan Farquhar denied that request in June, but Graf appealed the decision. The appeals court reversed Farquhar's ruling last month and sent the case back to Adams County District Court.

Graf faces two counts of second-degree assault, exhibition driving and reckless driving in connection with the crash on Second Street in Hastings. Jelena Bozic Skinner, 47, also of Hastings, sustained critical head injuries in the collision. She died on July 12, 2026.

Court records show Graf has additionally requested a bond review and asked to be released from wearing a tracking device. A hearing on those requests is scheduled for October 21, 2026. It was not clear from court documents whether the question of a juvenile court transfer would be revisited following the appeals court's decision.

Graf is separately charged with first-degree sexual assault in Adams County. Court records in that case have been sealed, though charging documents indicate the alleged assault occurred on September 22, 2025, and that the victim was 14 years old at the time.

Two other teenagers were also involved in the May 2025 crash. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the Bozic family.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)