A 22-year-old woman is facing multiple felony charges after a high-speed police pursuit ended in a deadly crash Tuesday night, killing an innocent Lyft driver and injuring his passenger.
Cera Wilkerson has been charged with second-degree reckless homicide and fleeing or eluding an officer. Prosecutors say she was behind the wheel of a black Chevrolet that was traveling at excessive speed—clocked at 60 miles per hour just seconds before impact—when she ran a red light and slammed into a Mitsubishi crossing through the intersection of Brady Street and Humboldt Boulevard.
The driver of the Mitsubishi, 28-year-old El Moctar Sidaya, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sidaya, who had recently immigrated to Milwaukee in search of a new beginning, was driving for Lyft at the time of the crash. According to his uncle, Brahim Minih, Sidaya had just enrolled in an English as a Second Language program and was scheduled to begin classes on August 2 or 3.
“He was very young — only 28 years old,” Minih said. “He wanted to build a future here.”
The passenger in Sidaya’s vehicle, 27-year-old Marquis Ward, survived the crash but sustained serious injuries, including broken bones, a collapsed lung, and damage to internal organs. His brother told WISN 12 News that Ward remains hospitalized but is alert and expected to recover.
According to the criminal complaint, Wilkerson was being pursued by Milwaukee police for a traffic violation when she fled. Officers briefly lost sight of her vehicle before it sped through the intersection and collided with Sidaya’s car. Wilkerson later told investigators she suffers from severe anxiety and has had negative past experiences with law enforcement, which she claims led to her panicked decision to flee. She also said she has little memory of the crash itself.
The tragic incident has renewed calls for legislative action. Minih is urging lawmakers to consider stricter consequences for reckless driving.
“I wish they could come up with a new law, and I hope they come up with it soon,” he said.
Wilkerson remains in custody as the legal process continues. The case has sparked outrage and grief across the community, especially among immigrant and rideshare communities, where Sidaya had begun building a life.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
