Naperville man faces three counts of aggravated DUI following October fatal crash

Bond was set Monday at $500,000 for a Naperville man accused of causing a crash that killed three individuals in October.

Brendan Wydajewski, 22, has been charged with three counts of aggravated DUI causing death. He has also been charged with misdemeanors of unlawful possession of a firearm and transportation or possession of open alcohol by a driver, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release.

On Oct. 30, at approximately 1:18 a.m., Lisle police responded to a call of a crash at the intersection of Warrenville Road and Corporate West Drive. Officers observed two vehicles, one of which was cut in half, with the driver’s side of the vehicle located in the road and the other half located off the road to the north.

Police found one person inside the vehicle who was identified as Andrew Purtill, 46. Purtill was pronounced dead at the scene. In the second vehicle, allegedly driven by Wydajewski, officers found two individuals, Graciela Leanos, 21, and Geovanny Alvarez, 22. Alvarez was pronounced dead at the scene. Leanos was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased later that evening.

Wydajewski was found on the ground near the driver’s side of his vehicle seriously injured. He was transported to a local hospital for medical attention and was released on Nov. 28. Officers also allegedly found two handguns located in the vehicle driven by Wydajewski.

Wydajewski allegedly was driving his vehicle at approximately 122 mph westbound on Warrenville Road when he crashed into a vehicle driven by Purtill.

“Like all alleged DUI cases, the case against Mr. Wydajewski was 100% avoidable,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “As I have said countless times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive. This is particularly relevant now, as we begin the holiday season. It is a very simple idea but unfortunately, in far too many instances, people feel they are able to drive when they are not, and tragedy follows as alleged in this case. Don’t allow yourself to become astatistic. Do yourself a favor and call a cab or use a ride-sharing service if you have been drinking.”

“Reckless and dangerous driving have taken far too many lives in DuPage County and continue to put law abiding citizens at risk,” Lisle Chief of Police Ron Wilke said in the release. “Law enforcement remains steadfast in seeking justice for those impacted by these reckless acts and urges people to consider these traumatic impacts prior to driving while intoxicated and at excessive speeds.”

Wydajewski’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 11.