Teen Driver Involved in Fatal Wreck Arraigned

Travis Dalla appeared in court on charges of alleged reckless
driving
Morgan Hill – The teen allegedly racing another teen on Butterfield Boulevard this summer will be arraigned in court 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, ejecting him 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.

Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said 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 occurred June 11.   

Both vehicles were northbound on Butterfield Boulevard about 11am, traveling more than 70 mph, according to police estimates, when the driver of the SUV turned in front of Schindler’s Mustang, “cutting him off,” witnesses told police. 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.