Teen Charged In Kane County Crash Into Bus That Killed Siblings

KANE COUNTY, IL — An Elgin teen has been indicted on several felony charges in Kane County for allegation he was driving under the influence of marijuana when his sport utility vehicle slammed into the back of a school bus on Halloween. Two passengers in his car, Grace Diewald, 20, and her brother, Emil Diewald, 19, both of Campton Hills, were killed in the collision.

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Charges have now been filed against Tyler A. Schmidt, 18, of the 43W block of Southgate Road in Elgin, who was driving "in excess of the posted speed limit" when his 2013 Lexus SUV hit the Burlington Central School District 301 bus on Empire Road between Burlington Road and Route 47.

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, and all the children were treated and released to their parents at the scene of the crash.

On Friday, the Kane County State's Attorney's Office announced Schmidt had been indicted in Kane County Court. The 18-year-old Elgin man has been charged with aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, a class 2 felony; reckless homicide, a class 3 felony; and aggravated DUI, a class 4 felony; aggravated reckless driving, a class 4 felony.

Prosecutors say Schmidt was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash.

Both Grace Diewald and Emil Diewald were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third passenger in the SUV suffered severe injuries. Schmidt sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities said following the crash.

Schmidt's bail was set at $100,000, and he has been since been released after posting 10 percent of his bond. He will remain on electronic home monitoring and will not be able to drive without a valid license and may leave home only to go to work and attend medical, counseling or attorney appointments, according to a state from the Kane County State's Attorney's Office.

He also must submit to random drug and alcohol testing.

The Kane County Sheriff’s Office and the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team
investigated the collision. Schmidt is next expected in court on Friday morning.