The Search for Ralphelle Howard Ended in Heartbreak

On September 8, 2026, a late-night crash on Chicago’s Far South Side ended with two families facing devastating loss.

Ralphelle Howard, 26, was a passenger in a Chevrolet Trailblazer carrying five adults when the SUV crashed near the Little Calumet River in the area of 130th and Indiana. Police said the driver lost control, struck a barrier and the vehicle entered the river around 2:30 a.m.

Three people managed to reach shore. The driver, 24-year-old Trumayne Sanders, was pulled from the water by Chicago police and later died at the hospital.

Ralphelle, however, was not immediately found.

As crews searched the river, her family waited anxiously for news. Her father described her as a wonderful person whose smile could light up a room. Her sister, Brianna Cummings, later expressed frustration over the search, saying the family felt the effort had not matched the urgency of the situation.

On Wednesday morning, authorities reported that Ralphelle’s body was recovered from the water near the same area. She was taken to Roseland Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Family members and friends have also described their own search efforts, saying several people entered the murky water and located Ralphelle near the area where the SUV had been removed.

The circumstances have left the family with painful questions. Police have described the incident as a traffic crash, and the driver was cited for speeding and failure to reduce speed. Authorities have not announced a homicide charge.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Chicago police detectives and the Major Accidents Investigation Unit working to determine exactly what happened.

For Ralphelle’s family, however, the investigation is only part of the story. They are mourning a 26-year-old woman whose life ended in a tragedy they believe deserves answers—and they continue to ask whether more could have been done to find her sooner.

Ralphelle Howard was 26. Trumayne Sanders was 24. Two young lives were lost in the Little Calumet River, leaving families searching for answers