Two Dead After SUV Carrying Five Plunges Into Chicago River

A late-night crash in Chicago ended in tragedy after an SUV carrying five adults broke through a barrier and plunged into the Little Calumet River.

The accident happened around 2:31 a.m. Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in the 13000 block of South Indiana Avenue in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood.

A Chevrolet Trailblazer carrying five adults reportedly lost control, crashed through a barrier and fell into the river.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, with members of the Chicago Police Department’s Marine Unit working to rescue those trapped in the vehicle.

Trumayne Sanders, 24, was pulled from the water by the Marine Unit and taken to a hospital. He later died from his injuries.

Another passenger, Ralphelle Howard, 26, was initially reported missing after the crash. The search continued into the following day until Howard’s body was discovered on the riverbank on September 9, approximately half a block from the location where the vehicle entered the water.

The three other occupants survived the crash.

Police cited the 24-year-old driver for failure to reduce speed. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

What began as a late-night drive ended with two families facing an unimaginable loss, as authorities continue working to determine exactly what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and plunge into the river.

Source: FOX 32