At age 21, Michael and a classmate at St. Procopius College, were walking at the side of the road in Lisle, Illinois when an approaching car went out of control. Michael immediately pushed his friend out of the way, just in time, saving his life. Unfortunately, because of this decision, Michael received the full force of impact from the careening automobile. He sustained a shattered skull and two fractures of his right leg as he was slammed against a brick wall. He remained in a coma until he died after 8 days in the intensive care unit.