Lyft driver charged with raping intoxicated passenger at his Tracy home

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (BCN) - A Lyft driver was charged  Monday with rape and kidnapping after taking a 25-year-old female passenger back to his home in Tracy and sexually assaulting her, police said

The driver, 46-year-old Tonye Kolokolo, was arrested Saturday in San Bruno on suspicion of false imprisonment and rape, police said. His bail has been set at $200,000. 

He was charged Monday morning with kidnapping with intent to rape, rape of an intoxicated person, and rape of an unconscious person. 

Police said the rider called Lyft for a ride from San Mateo at 3 a.m. Saturday because she was intoxicated and could not drive. When Kolokolo picked her up, she soon passed out in the back of his car, police said. 

Police said Kolokolo then drove her to Tracy and had nonconsensual sex with her there. When the woke up, authorities said she called police. 

Neighbors said they were surprised to hear the news. 

"I usually stay up late and I didn't notice anything off, notice anything odd," said Kolokolo's neighbor, Ramu Kukkurunu. 

Kolokolo's neighbors described him as quiet and said he often kept to himself.

"It was shocking, absolutely shocking," said neighbor, Brooke Phillips. "Knowing that they live right next door, and we would not have suspected anything like that."

San Bruno police Lt. Ryan Johansen said: "I think physically the victim is fine but obviously for any trauma victim, there is often a lengthy and involved healing process."

Lyft issued a statement that read in part, "Safety is fundamental to Lyft. What is being described is terrifying and the driver's access to Lyft has been permanently removed."

The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information related to this alleged crime or similar incidents involving Kolokolo is asked to call police at (650) 616-7100 or email sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov.