Man Sentenced To Jail In Crash That Killed Siblings

KANE COUNTY, IL — A 20-year-old South Elgin man accused of driving while under the influence of marijuana when he caused a crash that killed two of his friends on Halloween 2022 faces charges for allegations he violated conditions of his pretrial release.

Tyler Schmidt, 20, has been sentenced to 15 days in jail for the violations that happened in September, the Daily Herald is reporting. As part of his pre-trial release, Schmidt cannot use alcohol or cannabis and cannot violate laws. On Sept. 24, he tested positive for THC, and on Sept. 27, he was cited for illegally passing a vehicle on the shoulder of the road.

Schmidt is accused of driving while under the influence of marijuana when he crashed his 2013 Lexus sport utility vehicle into the back of a Burlington Central District 303 bus on Empire Road between Burlington Road and Route 47, authorities said.

Two passengers in his car, Grace Diewald, 20, and her brother, Emil Diewald, 19, both of Campton Hills, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A third passenger in the SUV suffered severe injuries. Schmidt sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said following the crash.

There were 31 Lily Lake Grade School students on the bus at the time of the crash, which happened at about 3:45 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2022, and all the children were treated and released to their parents at the scene of the crash.

Schmidt was charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, a class 2 felony; reckless homicide, a class 3 felony; aggravated DUI, a class 4 felony; and aggravated reckless driving, a class 4 felony.

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Conditions of his bail included submitting to random drug and alcohol testing, and he was to remain on electronic home monitoring. He was not to drive without a valid license and to leave home only to go to work and attend medical, counseling or attorney appointments, according to a statement from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

According to the Daily Herald, last year, Schmidt was sentenced to 14 days in jail for violating conditions of his pretrial release, but that sentenced was stayed. In that incident, Schmidt reportedly said he was going to Woodridge for work, but GPS data showed he drove to Huntley, where he was stopped for speeding.