Sheriff’s deputies arrest Travis Dalla; he avoids manslaughter
charges in accident that claimed Nicholas Schindler’s life
Morgan Hill – The man who was allegedly racing with the late Nicholas Schindler when his Mustang flipped, claiming his life, was arrested by Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies Monday night.
Travis Dalla, 19, of Morgan Hill was arrested on charges of alleged reckless driving after the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office filed the charge and issued a warrant.
Schindler’s father said that maybe now the facts about the incident that lead to the death of his son will come out.
“It’s important and right that Mr. Dalla answer for his involvement in our son’s accident and subsequent death,” Carl Schindler wrote in an e-mail. “It takes two to tango, and Mr. Dalla was one of the two major players. We understand mitigating circumstances of Nick not having his seat belt on and also Nick being just as responsible for his part in the incident and his own demise.”
The fact that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office decided to issue an arrest warrant, though the charge is a misdemeanor, is not something the Schindler family is celebrating, Carl said.
“It neither brings us joy or sadness, but it does bring some sort of satisfaction that Mr. Dalla is at least having to answer for his actions,” Carl Schindler said. “Life is so precious to us, especially after the loss of it. I do wonder sometimes if our vehicle codes shouldn’t be strengthened. Reckless driving seems a very small price to pay for being a major contributor in another’s loss of life, but then Mr. Dalla also has to answer to a High Authority at sometime.”
According to police reports, Dalla was allegedly driving an SUV northbound on Butterfield Boulevard on June 11 at speeds in excess of 70 mph, racing alongside Schindler.
Schindler, 20, died June 25 from injuries received in the accident. He remained in a coma for two weeks following the accident, after surgery to relieve swelling in his brain.
Witnesses told police that at approximately 11am on June 11, Schindler and someone driving an SUV were racing northbound on Butterfield Boulevard. As they passed the San Pedro intersection, the driver of the SUV allegedly pulled in front of Schindler’s Mustang, cutting him off and causing him to swerve to the left. As the Mustang hit the center median, it flipped into the air, smashing through an irrigation pipe and five elm trees before coming to rest leaning against another elm. The driver of the SUV did not stop, but fled the scene.
Morgan Hill police Cmdr. Joe Sampson said in July that Dalla, who was interviewed at the police station June 30, was not arrested or taken into custody at that time. Sampson indicated earlier that the driver of the SUV, unknown at the time, could face possible manslaughter charges if Schindler died.
Dalla was located through a description of his Chevy Tahoe. Witnesses told police the other driver was in a Chevy Tahoe or a Ford Expedition, and a description of the vehicle was circulated.
Sampson said an informant told MHPD detectives they heard through “a friend of a friend” that another friend had been racing with Schindler and didn’t know what to do and was trying to sell the vehicle.
“They did some snooping around and located the car, then conducted a stakeout to see who was involved,” Sampson said.
The Tahoe was in San Martin, with a “for sale” sign on it, and the sign had a phone number, Sampson said. Detectives contacted Dalla’s roommate and told him they needed to talk to the driver of the car.
They obtained a cell phone number from the roommate, Sampson said, and MHPD traffic officer Steve Pennington called Dalla.
During his interview with detectives, Sampson said, Dalla did not admit to racing with Schindler, but did say he was driving faster than the speed limit and that at one point, he was passed by Schindler.
Apparently Dalla knew Schindler, according to Sampson, but Dalla’s roommate knew him better.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
