Travis Dalla appeared in court on charges of alleged reckless
driving
Morgan Hill – The young man who was allegedly racing another on Butterfield Boulevard this summer will appear in court for an arraignment today on charges of reckless driving.
Travis Dalla, 19, of Morgan Hill will not face charges of manslaughter although Nicholas Schindler, 20, was killed when the Mustang he was driving flipped into the median, and he was ejected from the car.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office filed charges of reckless driving,
According to the California Vehicle Code, a person convicted of reckless driving can serve between five and 90 days in the county jail and/or pay a fine of between $145 and $1,000.
Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said that the District Attorney’s decision not to file manslaughter charges could have resulted from any number of factors under consideration, including witness statements that Schindler was speeding and the fact that he was not wearing a seat belt.
“Those could be seen as mitigating factors, but the DA may also have had other reasons,” Swing said. “However, the actions of the victim certainly can play a role in deciding which charges will be filed.”
The accident that caused Schindler’s injuries occurred June 11.
Both vehicles were northbound on Butterfield Boulevard at approximately 11am, traveling more than 70 mph, according to police estimates, when the driver of the SUV allegedly turned in front of Schindler’s Mustang, “cutting him off,” witnesses said. The Mustang then swerved and hit the curb of the center median, launching through five elm trees and an irrigation pipe in the median before coming to rest against another tree in the median.
Schindler was thrown through the driver’s side window as the Mustang was airborne and landed in the southbound lanes. He was flown by helicopter to Valley Medical Center, where he remained in intensive care for two weeks after surgery to relieve swelling in his brain. He died June 25 without ever regaining consciousness.
Dalla, who did not stop at the scene of the accident, was identified as the driver of the other vehicle in early July, after investigation by MHPD officers located the vehicle and then connected Dalla to the vehicle.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
