Heartbreak

 

The lives of three families were torn asunder on the night of May 18, 2024 when Haden Kyle, then 18 years old, lost control of the 2011 BMW he was driving while racing with another vehicle on Hockett Road at a speed of at least 112 mph, crashing into a tree with enough force to shatter the car into several pieces and leave a 235 foot long debris field. Passengers in Kyle’s vehicle, Joseph Castro and Aiden Schmidt, died at the scene. Kyle was severely injured.

Last October, Kyle pleaded guilty to two class 6 felony counts of causing the death of another by racing. (See GOMM Speed Kills). At that time, Goochland Commonwealth’s Attorney John L. Limpkins, Jr., presented the accident report from the Virginia State Police crash team, which oversaw the investigation. He read excepts from the 911 call and presented video recorded on the phone of one of the decedents. Goochland Circuit Court Judge Timothy K. Sanner was given a package of all reports including the medical examiner’s finding on the cause of death of the two passengers.

Kyle had been free on bond since the spring of 2025, when charges were filed against him. In October, the Judge declined Lumpkins’ request to revoke bond to allow him to complete a medical procedure related to the injuries he sustained in the crash.

On January 9, Judge Sanner sentenced Kyle to ten years of active prison time for each of the two felony counts of causing the death of another by racing with 7.5 years suspended, for a total of five years. Kyle was ordered not to drive; his license was suspended for three years. As a convicted felon, he must submit DNA samples to the criminal database.

Before sentencing, victim impact statements were made by Ashley Castro, sister of Joseph Castro, and Aiden’s Schmidt’s mother Alison. They emotionally described the profound devastation of the deaths of their loved ones on their families. Ashley, who was in high school at the time of her brother’s death, said that she had to care for her distraught mother and sister, which made it hard to her to go to school.

Alison Schmidt said that the pain of losing her son is constant and never goes away. She mourned the fact that she would never see Aiden graduate from high school, his smile, or watch his life events unfold. She also questioned why Kyle’s mother never reached out to offer sympathy on the loss of her child.

Jonel Kyle, Haden’s mother, spoke on behalf of her son. She said he was a good kid who liked to play hockey and spend time with his friends listed injuries he sustained, including a severed hand, two collapsed lungs, leg fracture, head trauma that caused a brain bleed, and broken back. Haden was put into a medically induced coma for three weeks with no guarantee he would survive.

She said that while she knew Joseph and Aiden, who Haden considered brothers, she had not met their parents.  She did not contact them because threats had allegedly been made against Kyle that required security being posted for him while he was in the ICU. His sister was harassed, which made it hard for her to go to school. He has no recollection of the crash.

 Haden needed so much constant care after returning home in a wheelchair, including a feeding tube, that she was forced to reduce her work hours, which created financial stress and seeking help from food banks. His long term traumatic brain injury symptoms may not improve. She said that he is in constant pain and unable to sit, stand, or lie down for extended periods.

Both the Judge and Lumpkins took issue with Kyle’s attorney Cody Villalon using the term “accident” to describe the event. Lumpkins said that Kyle’s reckless actions, driving a powerful vehicle with nearly bald tires on a wet and windy road more than twice the posted speed limit, unless he was able to suspend the laws of physics, made the result inevitable, and killed two young men.

Lumpkins said that the families of the two young men waited a long time for sentencing. He asked Judge Sanner to consider their deep, incredible loss, and lasting pain, and that it was time for Kyle to face the consequences of his actions. Loss of life requires clear punishment as a message to deter others. A light sentence, he said, would be an insult to the families.

Kyle read a statement to the Court in a slow, halting manner. He said that he is very sorry for his actions and that he is in constant pain both in body and mind. Going forward he is not sure what his body and mind will let him do, but he would like to go to trade school to learn how to work on cars and share his story to teach young drivers how important rules of the road are. He also said he misses Joseph and Aiden and hopes to do something to better their memories.

Judge Sanner, who was visibly moved, said that this was a difficult case. At 18 years old, his judgement not fully developed, Kyle was barely an adult, a good kid from a good family.  He woke up in horrific pain and realized the worst possible outcome of his actions that killed two friends. No matter what the outcome, said the Judge, Kyle will have to live with this for the rest of his life.

He commended Kyle for taking responsibility by pleading guilty to the charges. This wasn’t an accident, the Judge said, it was caused by dangerous and reckless behavior. He said Kyle is unlikely to repeat these actions.

Judge Sanner also ordered that Kyle, after his release, seek mental health evaluations so he can move forward in a prudent fashion.