Crime & Safety

Bond Set at $250,000 for Geneva Man Accused in Fatal Naperville Quarry Accident

The accident occurred Saturday morning after police said Michael Szot crashed into a Naperville Park District quarry. Mihirtej Boddupalli, 21, of Lisle, and Sajaad Safiullah Syed, 21, of Naperville, died in the crash.

A $250,000 bond has been set for a Geneva man accused of driving drunk into a Naperville quarry and causing the drowning deaths of two friends who were passengers in the vehicle, prosecutors said Sunday. 

Michael Szot, 21, has been charged with four counts of aggravated DUI involving death and two counts of reckless homicide following the accident that occurred when Szot crashed into a Naperville Park District quarry at about 1:45 a.m. on July 19, according to a DuPage County State's Attorney's Office press release. 

While Szot was able to get out of the vehicle after it plunged into the quarry, two passengers in his vehicle, Mihirtej Boddupalli, 21, of Lisle, and Sajaad Safiullah Syed, 21, of Naperville, were not able to escape.  

Divers discovered their bodies still in the vehicle at the bottom of a quarry located at the northwest corner of intersection Aurora Avenue and Eagle Street. 

Both Boddupalli and Syed were 2011 graduates of Naperville North High School where they ran cross-country and were well-liked, according to the Daily Herald. Boddupalli was a student at Northwestern University where he was studying to be an engineer while Syed attended Indiana University, the Daily Herald reports. 

“Early yesterday morning, two young men tragically lost their lives because of a very bad decision made by an alleged drunk driver,” said DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin. “People have got to learn that DUI crashes are not accidents and are 100 percent avoidable by not drinking before you get behind the wheel of a car. My sincerest condolences go out to the family and friends of Sajaad Syed and Mihirtej Boddupalli on their loss."

Authorities said the accident happened after Szot failed to make it around a curve while traveling west on Aurora Avenue near Eagle Street, left the roadway, crashed into several trees and landed in the quarry. 

Prosectors said Szot's blood alcohol content exceeded the legal limit of .08 at the time of the crash. Szot also told authorities he had smoked marijuana earlier that day and police found a marijuana pipe in his possession, according to the news release. 

Prosecutors asked for a $3 million bond be in the case but DuPage County Judge Timothy McJoynt on Sunday ordered the lower bond of $250,000. Szot must pay $25,000 for his release from jail. 

He is next expected in court on Aug. 11 for an arraignment. If convicted,, he could face up to 28 years in prison. 


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