26-Year-Old Woman Jailed for High-Speed Crash on Lake Shore Drive
A tragic incident occurred on March 25, 2023, on Lake Shore Drive in Uptown, resulting in the death of a 34-year-old rideshare passenger, Stephan Piven. The responsible party, 26-year-old Jalisa Woolfolk, is now facing serious charges for her alleged actions that day.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Pekara, Woolfolk was driving a 2023 white Kia Forte bearing a Zipcar logo at a high rate of speed behind an Uber vehicle on Lake Shore Drive. Data recovered from the Kia showed that Woolfolk was traveling at 81 mph in a 40 mph zone just moments before the devastating impact.
The collision was so severe that the Uber vehicle flipped, became airborne, and landed on its roof. While the Uber driver managed to free himself from the wreckage, Piven was trapped inside and had to be extricated by firefighters. Tragically, Piven succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Woolfolk allegedly fled the scene of the crash. Witnesses reported seeing her drive along the shoulder of Lake Shore Drive, exit at Irving Park Road, and park near an apartment complex on Marine Drive. Two witnesses claimed to have seen Woolfolk leave the heavily damaged Kia and get into the back seat of a rideshare vehicle at the apartment complex.
Further evidence against Woolfolk includes rental records linking her to the Zipcar account used to rent the Kia and surveillance footage supporting witness accounts. Additionally, Lyft records indicated that Woolfolk was picked up from the apartment complex and transported to an address in Evanston.
Prosecutors also highlighted that Woolfolk had a suspended driver’s license in 2020 and a conviction for driving without insurance in 2023. These factors, combined with her alleged actions following the crash, led to her being charged with failure to report a fatal accident.
Despite Woolfolk’s denial of involvement in the crash, Judge Antara Rivera ordered her to be detained pending further legal proceedings. The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions on the road.
