Travis Dalla’s case is continued, faces reckless driving
misdemeanor charge
San Martin – A Morgan Hill man who was allegedly involved in an accident that lead to the death of Nicholas Schindler, 20, was in court Thursday morning, but Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Teresa Guerrero-Daley was “a bit overwhelmed” by the amount of information presented during the pre-trial hearing, according to Assistant District Attorney Lynn Knapp, and the hearing was continued.
Travis Dalla, 20, faces a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. He will not face a felony charge of manslaughter although Schindler was killed when the Mustang he was driving flipped into the median, and he was ejected from the car.
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.
“There were extensive discussions with the court about this case, informing the court of the background of the case for the purpose of getting an indication of what sentence she would impose if he pled guilty,” Knapp said.
Guerrero-Daley continued the hearing for a month, Knapp said, in order to consider the information in the “multiple” police reports in the case.
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 did not stop at the time of Schindler’s accident, according to police reports, and was later located when his vehicle was identified as one described as witnesses.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
