DUI Crash That Killed 3 Nets Naperville Man 18-Year Sentence

NAPERVILLE, IL — A Naperville man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in connection with a 2021 crash that killed Andrew Purtill, 46, Geovanny Alvarez, 22, and Graciela Leanos, 21 in Lisle. Brendan Wydajewski, 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated DUI causing death in connection to the crash.

Police were called to the intersection of Corporate West Drive and Warrenville Road just after 1:15 a.m. and arrived to two cars that had been in a crash, including a car that had been split in half. Purtill was found in the latter car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Leanos and Alvarez were passengers in Wydajewski's car; Alvarez was pronounced dead at the scene. Leanos was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

An investigation led police to determine that Wydajewski had been driving west on Warrenville Road, hitting speeds as fast as 122 mph, when he crashed into Purtill's car. Just after the crash, Wydajewski was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and his BAC was measured at .147.

“Like all DUI cases, the case against Mr. Wydajewski was 100% avoidable,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. in a statement.

Berlin added, “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. As I have said countless times in the past, if you have been drinking, do not drive. Don’t allow yourself to become a statistic."

Wydajewski is required to swerve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.