Tyler Schmidt Charged After School Bus Accident Killed Siblings Emil and Grace Diewald in Kane County, Illinois

KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS — An 18-year-old from Plato Township, Tyler Schmidt, has been charged in connection with a crash that killed siblings Emil Diewald, 19, and Grace Diewald, 20, in Kane County, Illinois, last Halloween. Investigators allege that Schmidt was speeding and driving under the influence of drugs when his vehicle collided with a school bus that had stopped to drop off a student.

According to the information provided, Schmidt faces multiple charges, including aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, reckless homicide, aggravated DUI involving great bodily harm to a minor passenger, and aggravated reckless driving. He is also accused of failing to slow down to avoid a collision with the stopped school bus.

The charges were reportedly sealed from public disclosure while authorities worked to arrest Schmidt. A warrant was issued on December 21, and he was arrested on December 27.

Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain said accident reconstruction findings and data recovered from the vehicle’s onboard black box indicated that Schmidt was traveling approximately 5 to 8 miles per hour above the posted 45 mph speed limit on Empire Road in Campton Township at the time of the crash.

Emil and Grace Diewald were passengers in the 2013 Lexus SUV Schmidt was driving. A 17-year-old girl from South Elgin who was also inside the vehicle was airlifted to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Information about her condition was not available in the supplied report.

The school bus was transporting students home from Lily Lake Grade School. No injuries were reported among the students or others aboard the bus.

The deaths of the two siblings have brought attention to the serious consequences that can follow alleged impaired driving and excessive speed, particularly on roads where school buses stop to allow children to exit.

According to the supplied information, Schmidt was being held at the Kane County jail on a $100,000 bond, with $10,000 or 10% required for release. The current status of the case and any subsequent court proceedings were not provided.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the information supplied. The charges represent allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Further details should be confirmed through official law enforcement and court records.