A 26-year-old lady is now jailed after prosecutors stated she induced a high-speed crash on Lake Shore Drive that killed a 34-year-old rideshare passenger, fled the scene, and later Googled details about the crash.
Jalisa Woolfolk is charged with failure to report a deadly accident in reference to the March 25, 2023, crash that killed 34-year-old Stephan Piven within the 4300 block of North Lake Shore Drive in Uptown.
In a detention submitting, Assistant State’s Legal professional Mike Pekara stated an Uber driver was driving a 2015 Nissan Rogue southbound on Lake Shore Drive close to Montrose Avenue with Piven using within the again seat. On the similar time, Woolfolk was allegedly rushing behind the rideshare car in a 2023 white Kia Forte bearing a Zipcar brand.
Information recovered from the Kia confirmed Woolfolk was touring 81 mph moments earlier than influence in a 40 mph zone. Pekara stated Woolfolk’s automotive struck the Uber with such pressure that the rideshare car spun, flipped, turned airborne, and landed on its roof.
The Uber driver was capable of free himself from the wreckage, however Piven was trapped inside, based on the submitting. Firefighters extricated him from the overturned car, and he was taken to a hospital, the place he was pronounced useless from accidents suffered within the crash.
A number of witnesses known as 911 to report the crash.
Prosecutors stated Woolfolk’s Kia sustained heavy front-end harm, however she didn’t cease. As a substitute, she allegedly drove alongside the shoulder of Lake Shore Drive, exited at Irving Park Highway, and parked close to an house advanced on Marine Drive.
Witnesses later reported seeing Woolfolk inside after which exiting the closely broken Kia. Two witnesses advised investigators they noticed a rideshare car pull into the house constructing driveway and watched Woolfolk go away within the again seat of that car. Prosecutors stated surveillance and different video proof corroborated the witness accounts.
Rental information allegedly confirmed that Woolfolk was listed on the Zipcar account used to lease the Kia and that her bank card had paid for the rental on the night time of the crash.
Pekara stated Lyft information confirmed a driver picked Woolfolk up from the house advanced and transported her to an deal with in Evanston that’s “related to” her.
Prosecutors additionally alleged that Woolfolk later searched on-line for details about the crash, a element they cited as proof that she was conscious of the deadly collision.
Court docket information point out Woolfolk’s driver’s license was suspended in 2020 after two or extra shifting violations inside 24 months. She additionally has a 2023 conviction for driving with out insurance coverage, prosecutors stated.
Choose Antara Rivera ordered Woolfolk detained on a cost of failure to report a deadly accident.
