Residents and a victim’s family are questioning roadway protections near South Indiana Avenue after two people died in the Little Calumet River.
CHICAGO — A crash that killed two people after an SUV plunged into the Little Calumet River is renewing questions about roadway safety near South Indiana Avenue, where residents say vehicles have previously crashed near or into the water.
Ralphelle Howard, 26, and Trumayne Sanders, 24, died after the vehicle carrying five adults lost control about 2:31 a.m. Tuesday in the 13000 block of South Indiana Avenue. Police said the SUV struck a barrier and entered the river. Three occupants survived, and the 24-year-old driver was cited for failing to reduce speed.
The crash has focused attention on the roadway near the river, where residents told local news organizations they have seen other serious crashes. Howard’s family also called for officials to examine safety measures at the location. The concerns intensified as relatives searched for Howard, who remained missing until her body was found Wednesday.
Albert Miller, a neighborhood resident, told ABC7 Chicago that he had lived in the area for 13 years and had seen similar incidents. He called for additional signs to make drivers more aware of the turn. Howard’s father also said he intended to press for safety improvements at the location.
A previous fatal crash occurred in the area in February 2024, when the driver of a stolen U-Haul crashed into the river, according to CBS News Chicago. The Chicago Department of Transportation told the station that guardrails were replaced after that crash in March 2024. The condition and configuration of roadway barriers at the time of Tuesday’s crash have not been fully explained by city officials in the reports reviewed.
P.S. Sriraj, director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, told CBS News Chicago that the outcome of a collision with a guardrail can depend on factors including vehicle speed and the angle of impact. He said there was not enough information to determine how those factors applied in Tuesday’s crash.
Police said the SUV was carrying five adults when it lost control, struck the barrier and went into the Little Calumet River. Three people made it to land safely. A marine unit rescued Sanders, who was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and later died.
Howard could not initially be found, prompting an extended search of the river and shoreline. Her family joined efforts around the area while authorities conducted marine operations. Her father said Wednesday that her body had been located on the riverbank about half a block from where the vehicle had been pulled from the water.
The driver survived and was taken to Roseland Hospital in good condition with arm and shoulder pain, police said. Two women, ages 22 and 27, were not injured. Police issued the driver a citation for failing to reduce speed, but investigators have not released a final determination explaining all factors that contributed to the crash.
The Major Accidents Investigation Unit has been investigating the incident. No final findings about the roadway, barrier performance or other possible contributing conditions had been publicly announced as of Thursday, leaving both the crash investigation and broader questions about the location unresolved.
Author note: Last updated September 10, 2026.