GOOCHLAND COUNTY, Va. — An 18-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday for a May 2024 racing crash that resulted in two fatalities.
Hayden Alexander Kyle pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by racing. The crash on May 18, 2024, killed J.R. Tucker High School students Joseph Castro and Aiden Schmidt.
In Goochland Circuit Court, Judge Timothy Sanner sentenced Kyle to 20 years total, with 15 years suspended. He emphasized that the incident “wasn’t an accident” but expressed belief in Kyle’s potential for rehabilitation.
The judge considered Kyle’s significant injuries from the crash, his lack of prior criminal record, and his expression of remorse as factors in determining the sentence.
According to Goochland County Commonwealth’s Attorney John Lumpkins, Kyle was racing at speeds of 112 mph with bald tires when he lost control and crashed into a tree, resulting in his vehicle splitting in half. Kyle was in a medically induced coma for three weeks as a result of his injuries.
Witnesses reported the crash occurred after Kyle and friends gathered at a local restaurant prior to racing on back roads. The victims died instantly at the scene.
A victim impact statement from Castro’s sister revealed the emotional toll on her family, recounting difficulties in her education following the tragedy. Schmidt’s mother expressed profound grief, stating, “my son was taken from me in a racing accident that should never have happened.”
Kyle’s defense attorney highlighted his client’s lack of recollection of the events, but acknowledged his responsibility for the deaths. Kyle walked into the courtroom with family but left in handcuffs after the sentencing. His counsel confirmed there would be no appeal.