San Martin – The 20-year-old man who was racing with the late Nicholas Schindler when his Mustang flipped, claiming his life, plead guilty Thursday afternoon to misdemeanor reckless driving.
Travis Dalla, of Morgan Hill, was sentenced by Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley to spend 45 days in Santa Clara County Jail.
The reckless driving charge was the result of a June 11 accident during which Schindler, 20, was gravely injured and later died from his injuries at Valley Medical Center.
“It seems a very, very small price to pay for a human life,” Schindler’s father, Carl Schindler, said of the sentence on Monday. “What’s 45 days? You can stand on your head for 45 days. Is this how much we value human life?”
According to witnesses, Schindler and Dalla were seen driving at a high rate of speed – possibly more than 70mph – northbound on Butterfield Boulevard approaching the San Pedro Avenue intersection. Just north of the intersection, Dalla apparently pulled in front of Schindler, and Schindler’s Mustang veered toward the median, becoming airborne as it flipped sideways. Schindler, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected through the driver’s side window and thrown into the southbound lanes. The Mustang plowed through five trees and an irrigation pipe in the median before coming to rest on its side against another tree.
Schindler was flown to Valley Medical Center with severe head injuries. He remained in a coma in intensive care for two weeks before he died without regaining consciousness.
At the time of the accident, Dalla did not stop. When police arrived at the scene, they found witnesses, but Dalla’s Chevy Tahoe was gone. Police circulated a description of the Tahoe, hoping someone would come forward.
Nearly three weeks after the accident, Morgan Hill police located Dalla through his roommate after someone reported they heard second-hand that Dalla was trying to sell the vehicle.
Dalla was arrested Oct. 2 by Sheriff’s Office deputies after the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed the charge and issued a warrant.
Assistant District Attorney Lynn Knapp said because Schindler died, he would have liked a stronger penalty for Dalla, but the more serious charge of manslaughter was not filed because the evidence may not have supported it.
Schindler was severely injured when he was ejected from his vehicle.
He was thrown through the driver’s side window as the Mustang was airborne, and he landed in the southbound lanes of Butterfield Boulevard. 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.
“It’s interesting that he came back to scene of the accident and didn’t own up to it,” Carl Schindler said. “Maybe that’s the best our system of justice could do. This is something he’s going to have to live with for the rest of his life. Hopefully he will learn a lesson from this, that’s all you can hope for. Our prayers are with him that he can use this in some way to help him further in life.”
n June 11: Travis Dalla and Nicholas Schindler are driving recklessly on Butterfield Boulevard when Schindler’s Mustang flips, ejecting Schindler from the vehicle.
DALLA TIMELINE
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June 25: Schindler dies without regaining consciousness.
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June 30: Dalla is interviewed by Morgan Hill police.
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Oct. 2: Dalla is arrested by Sheriff’s Office deputies.
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Dec. 5: Dalla is arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving, not manslaughter.
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March 1: Dalla pleads guilty to reckless driving.
