San Martin
– The 20-year-old man who was racing on Butterfield Boulevard
this summer has pleaded guilty 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.
San Martin – The 20-year-old man who was racing on Butterfield Boulevard this summer has pleaded guilty 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 an accident June 11. Nicholas Schindler, 20, was injured in the accident and later died from his injuries.
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 that Dalla was trying to sell the vehicle. He was identified as the driver of the other vehicle in early July.
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.
