5 To 15 Years In Wrong-Way I-87 Crash That Killed Bedford 22-Year-Old

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — A preventable tragedy on a Westchester highway continues to affect the lives of those left behind.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that the woman whose drunk driving caused the death of a 22-year-old Bedford Hills resident, and gravely injured a second person, was sentenced to five to 15 years in state prison.

Qualasia Willis, 29, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty in November to felony aggravated vehicular homicide, felony assault and driving while intoxicated.

The judge issued the five-to-15-year sentence Wednesday morning for the top charge of aggravated vehicular homicide. He also sentenced Willis to one to three years in prison for the vehicular asssault charge and one year for the driving while intoxicated charge, both to run concurrently with the five-to-15-year sentence.

"This is yet another tragic incident highlighting the dangers of driving while intoxicated," Cacace said. "The Westchester County DA's Office will continue to aggressively pursue cases like these, sending the clear message that driving under the influence will not be tolerated."

On April 9, 2023, at around 4:30 a.m., Willis drove an Acura MDX southward for approximately 4 miles in the northbound lanes of I-87, in Yonkers. Willis collided with a car that was being driven by Isabel Steger, 22, of Bedford Hills. Willis had a blood-alcohol content of .14 percent at the time.

Steger was pronounced dead at NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester, in Bronxville. The passenger in Steger's car, Julia Ring, survived the crash but was left with lifelong debilitating injuries.

At the sentencing, Ring and Steger's parents read victim impact statements describing the trauma the incident caused to them.

"I’m thankful that I had such amazing family members and friends by my side through it all and that by the grace of God, I am standing here today," Ring said. "But I will always carry the scars, the chronic pain, and the limp, a permanent reminder of what you caused."

"It takes a conscious, deliberate effort to make it through the day without breaking down," Tim Steger, Isabel Steger's father, said. "People always say, 'Sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine what you must be going through.' No parent should have the constant, daily burden of outliving their child."

Cacace thanked the New York State Police and Westchester County DA Investigator Jed Salter for their work on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorneys Marissa Morra-Wynn and Courtney Johnson.