Five adults were inside the vehicle when it struck a barrier and plunged into the Little Calumet River early Tuesday.
CHICAGO, IL — A 24-year-old man died and a 26-year-old woman remained missing after a vehicle carrying five adults lost control, struck a barrier and plunged into the Little Calumet River on Chicago’s Far South Side early Tuesday, authorities said.
The crash happened about 2:31 a.m. Sept. 8 in the 13000 block of South Indiana Avenue in the West Pullman area, according to Chicago police. Three people were able to escape the vehicle and reach land. A Marine Unit rescued another man from the water, while crews continued searching for the fifth occupant.
The man pulled from the river was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died. CBS Chicago identified him as 24-year-old Trumayne Sanders. Earlier reports had described him as being in serious condition before authorities confirmed his death later Tuesday.
The missing passenger was identified by her family as 26-year-old Ralphelle Howard. Her relatives and friends gathered near the river as marine crews searched the area. Howard’s father, Benard Howard, told CBS Chicago, “That’s my baby and I love her.” He and other relatives spent Tuesday waiting for information as the search continued.
The 24-year-old driver was taken to Roseland Hospital in good condition, according to police. CBS Chicago reported that police issued the driver a citation for failing to reduce speed. Two other passengers, women ages 22 and 27, were not injured. Authorities have not publicly detailed what caused the driver to lose control before the vehicle struck the barrier and entered the river.
Initial reports Tuesday morning said the rescued male passenger was hospitalized in serious condition and that the woman was missing. Police and fire personnel continued operations at the river after daylight, while later reporting confirmed that the hospitalized passenger had died. The investigation remained under the direction of Chicago police.
The crash also renewed questions about barriers along the stretch of roadway near the river. CBS Chicago reported that another vehicle crashed into the Little Calumet River in the area in February 2024, killing the driver of a stolen U-Haul. The Chicago Department of Transportation said guardrails were replaced following that crash in March 2024. Howard’s father said he wanted officials to examine conditions at the location again.
P.S. Sriraj, director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, told CBS Chicago that the effectiveness of a guardrail during a crash can depend on factors including the speed of the vehicle and the angle of impact. Authorities had not released the vehicle’s speed or a complete reconstruction of Tuesday’s crash.
As of early Wednesday, Howard was still being reported missing, and no finding explaining why the vehicle left the roadway had been announced. Police continued investigating the crash while search efforts focused on locating her.
Author note: Last updated September 9, 2026.