Five adults were inside the SUV when it struck a barrier and plunged into the river on Chicago’s Far South Side.
CHICAGO, IL — A 24-year-old man died and a 26-year-old woman remained missing Tuesday after an SUV carrying five adults lost control, struck a barrier and plunged into the Little Calumet River on Chicago’s Far South Side, authorities said.
The crash happened about 2:30 a.m. Sept. 8 in the 13000 block of South Indiana Avenue in the West Pullman area. Chicago police said three people were able to escape the vehicle and reach land, while a Marine Unit rescued a male passenger from the water. The woman, identified by her family as Ralphelle Howard, had not been located by late Tuesday morning.
The rescued 24-year-old man was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he later died, police said. Authorities had not publicly released his identity. Earlier reports described him as being in serious condition before police confirmed that he had died.
Police said the vehicle was a Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling west when the driver lost control, struck a barrier and went into the river. The 24-year-old driver was taken to Roseland Hospital in good condition with pain in his arm and shoulder. Police later issued him a citation for failure to reduce speed.
Two other passengers, women ages 22 and 27, were not injured, according to police. The three occupants who made it out of the vehicle were able to reach land safely after the crash. Authorities have not released additional details about how they escaped.
Marine Unit crews continued searching the Little Calumet River for Howard. Police said the 26-year-old had not been located as of late Tuesday morning. Her family was at the scene as rescuers searched the water.
Howard’s mother and sister told local reporters they were hoping search crews would find her. “I just hope they find my baby, that’s all,” her mother said. Authorities had not announced any evidence indicating what happened to Howard after the SUV entered the river.
Police have not released a detailed account of what caused the driver to lose control before hitting the barrier. No criminal charges had been announced. Beyond the citation issued to the driver, investigators had not disclosed whether speed or any other factor contributed to the crash.
The investigation remained ongoing Tuesday as Marine Unit personnel continued searching for Howard and authorities worked to determine the circumstances of the crash. Police had not announced when the search would conclude or released the name of the passenger who died.
Author note: Last updated September 8, 2026.