A Sterling Heights man has pleaded guilty to a felony drunken-driving charge in connection with a September crash on Pontiac Trail in Commerce Township that killed a 30-year-old driver. Kevin Koldys, 51, entered the plea on March 3 and is set to return to court for sentencing next month.
Plea Entered and Next Court Date
According to ClickOnDetroit, Koldys pleaded guilty to one count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. He is expected to be sentenced on April 7, at 8:30 a.m. The plea follows a December felony charge in the case and moves the matter toward a final resolution in district court.
How Investigators Say the Crash Happened
Investigators say the collision happened on Sept. 5, 2025, when Koldys was driving a 2021 Lexus RC northbound on M-5 and lost control. The vehicle went through tall grass and weeds, then re-entered the roadway and jumped a curb in a roundabout. That sequence sent the Lexus into a 2017 Chevrolet Trax, which was pushed into a third vehicle. The Trax's driver, 30-year-old Matthew John Szakal of Waterford Township, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the Honda CR-V suffered only minor injuries. As reported by CBS Detroit, sheriff's crash-reconstruction investigators said excessive speed and alcohol appeared to be factors.
Charge, Bond and Possible Penalties
Koldys was arraigned on Dec. 19, 2025, on the felony count and was held on a $25,000 bond, according to court records and coverage at the time. If convicted of operating while intoxicated causing death, he faces up to 15 years in prison and fines between $2,500 and $10,000, according to reporting from The Oakland Press.
Where This Fits in Statewide Trends
Alcohol-involved crashes remain a stubborn problem across Michigan. State crash data show 307 alcohol-involved traffic fatalities in 2024, along with a slight uptick in overall traffic deaths last year. The Michigan Traffic Crash Facts portal, together with a Michigan State Police release, offers the latest statewide figures and context for ongoing enforcement and prevention efforts.
What to Expect at Sentencing
Koldys is scheduled for sentencing in the 52-1 District Court in Novi on April 7. That court handles criminal traffic matters for several communities, including Commerce Township and Novi. Hoodline covered the earlier arraignment and investigation in December, and this guilty plea marks the next major step in the case as the community waits to see what sentence the court will impose.
