A 24-year-old man has died and a 26-year-old woman remains missing after a vehicle carrying five people crashed into the Little Calumet River on Chicago’s Far South Side early Tuesday.
The crash happened at about 2:30 a.m. near the 1300 block of South Indiana Avenue. Chicago police said the driver lost control of the vehicle, struck a barrier and went into the river.
Three people managed to get out of the vehicle and reach the shore. A fourth passenger, identified as 24-year-old Trumayne Sanders, was pulled from the water by Chicago’s Marine Unit.
Sanders was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died.
The fifth person, 26-year-old Ralphelle Howard, remained missing as authorities continued searching the river. Her family has identified her and joined the search near the crash site.
Howard’s father, Benard Howard, said the family was told her phone had been detected in the area. He and other relatives and friends spent hours near the river as crews searched for her.
“That’s my baby and I love her,” Howard said. He described his daughter as someone whose smile could brighten a room and said she had been out with friends before the crash.
Driver cited after crash
The 24-year-old driver survived the crash and was taken to Roseland Hospital in good condition. Police said he reported pain in his arm and shoulder and was later cited for failing to reduce speed.
Two other women who were inside the vehicle were not injured.
Police have not released a detailed explanation of what caused the driver to lose control. The investigation remains ongoing.
Search continues for missing woman
Marine Unit crews continued searching the Little Calumet River for Howard after the vehicle entered the water. Search efforts were limited during the overnight hours and resumed with daylight.
Howard’s family remained at the scene, hoping rescuers would locate her.
Her sister also appealed for search crews to continue looking, saying the family simply wanted to know that Howard was safe.
Concerns raised about barrier near river
Tuesday’s crash has also renewed concerns about the safety measures along the roadway near the river.
A similar fatal crash occurred in the area in February 2024 when the driver of a stolen U-Haul went into the Little Calumet River and died.
After that crash, the Chicago Department of Transportation said guardrails in the area were replaced in March 2024. Following Tuesday’s crash, however, family members pointed to the absence of a barrier near the location where the vehicle entered the river.
Transportation expert P.S. Sriraj said the condition and placement of a guardrail can be important in preventing a vehicle from leaving the roadway. He noted that speed and the angle of impact can also affect the outcome of a crash.
Authorities have not said whether the condition of the barrier played a role in Tuesday morning’s crash.
Benard Howard said he plans to continue pressing the city to examine the area and consider changes that could make the roadway safer.
The investigation into the crash and the search for Howard remain ongoing.
