The family of a Chicago woman who died after an SUV plunged into the Little Calumet River is calling for changes along a dangerous stretch of South Indiana Avenue, saying better barriers, lighting and warning signs could help prevent another tragedy.
Ralphelle Howard, 26, was one of five adults inside a Chevrolet Trailblazer when the vehicle crashed into the river around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday near 130th Street and South Indiana Avenue.
Police said the driver lost control, struck a barrier and went into the water. Three people, including the driver, were able to reach shore. A fourth passenger, 24-year-old Trumayne Sanders, was rescued by Chicago police divers and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Howard remained missing after the crash.
Her body was located Wednesday, bringing the death toll from the crash to two. Family members later raised questions about the search effort, saying friends who went into the water themselves located Howard near the submerged SUV shortly after official search efforts had been paused.
The circumstances have left Howard’s relatives grieving while also pressing city officials for answers about the roadway.
Family Questions Road Conditions
Howard’s family says the crash highlights longstanding safety concerns near the sharp turn on 130th Street as drivers approach Indiana Avenue.
The roadway passes beneath a railroad overpass before the turn, and the area has previously seen vehicles leave the road and enter the river. A 25 mph speed limit is posted for the turn.
Family members and friends say the area needs stronger protection between the roadway and the river, along with better lighting and additional warnings for drivers.
Kamauri Burnett, a friend of Howard’s, said the community should not have to wait for another fatal crash before improvements are made.
The family also questioned the condition of the railing near the crash site. They said a section had been damaged and should have been repaired before another vehicle went into the river.
A Previous Crash Raised Similar Concerns
The location has seen another deadly incident involving a vehicle entering the Little Calumet River.
In February 2024, a stolen U-Haul went through a guardrail at 130th Street and Indiana Avenue and ended up in the river during a police pursuit. The driver, Larry Perry, died after entering the water.
Following that crash, the Chicago Department of Transportation said the guardrail separating the roadway from the river was replaced.
The latest crash, however, has renewed questions about whether the existing protection is sufficient to keep vehicles from reaching the river.
City Looking at Safety Improvements
The Chicago Department of Transportation said plans are in place to repair the guardrail and that the agency is examining additional ways to improve safety in the area.
Reducing dangerous speeding is among the concerns being considered.
For Howard’s family, those steps are not enough.
Her father said his priority is making sure another family does not have to experience the loss of a loved one under similar circumstances. Relatives are asking for stronger railings or barriers, improved lighting, clearer warning signs and other measures that could give drivers more protection when approaching the turn.
The driver involved in the latest crash, a 24-year-old man whose name has not been released, was cited for failing to reduce speed. The investigation remains ongoing.
For Howard’s family, the tragedy has become a call for action at a location they believe should have been made safer before another vehicle ended up in the river.
