Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced that Brendan Wydajewski, a 24-year-old man from Naperville, has been sentenced to 18 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The sentence follows a fatal crash in October 2021 that resulted in the deaths of three individuals. Wydajewski appeared before Judge Ann Celine O’Hallaren Walsh and pled guilty to three counts of Aggravated DUI Causing Death, a Class 2 Felony.

The incident occurred on October 30, 2021, at around 1:18 a.m. when Lisle police responded to a crash at Warrenville Road and Corporate West Drive. Officers found two vehicles at the scene; one was split in half with significant damage. Andrew Purtill, aged 46, was identified as one of the victims and pronounced dead at the scene. Graciela Leanos, aged 21, and Geovanny Alvarez, aged 22, were also involved; Alvarez died at the scene while Leanos succumbed to her injuries later that evening at a hospital.

Wydajewski was found injured near his vehicle and transported to a hospital for treatment before being released on November 28, 2021. An investigation revealed he was driving westbound at approximately 122 mph when he collided with Purtill's vehicle. His blood alcohol content (BAC) was recorded at .147.

“Like all DUI cases, the case against Mr. Wydajewski was 100% avoidable,” Berlin stated. “Because of Mr. Wydajewski’s reckless actions, the lives of Andrew Purtill, Graciela Leanos and Geovanny Alvarez have been reduced to a statistic and a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences of drinking and driving."

Berlin commended Assistant State’s Attorneys Nick Catizone and Alexandria Levan for their work on securing the prosecution that led to Wydajewski's sentence.

Wydajewski is required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.