The search has expanded for two men who went missing after the car they were riding in plunged into the Calumet River on Chicago's South Side as they returned home from an engagement party.
The Chicago Police Marine Unit on Monday "enlisted the assistance of United States Coast Guard to search an extended area," police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
Davontae Searcy, 23, and Demetrius Hendricks, 26, were identified as the missing victims. According to police, surveillance video confirmed the incident took place around 3:30 a.m. Sunday near the 13600 block of South Calhoun Street.
"I want them to treat this like this was their child and feel what I am feeling," said Searcy's mother, Latonya Simunjak.
Another passenger in the vehicle, a 26-year-old man, was rescued at the scene and immediately transported to Trinity Hospital, authorities said. He was discovered walking along Torrence Avenue "wet and confused."
"The victim believes his two friends may still be in the vehicle submerged in the water," police said in a statement at the time.
According to family members, the three men were driving back home from an engagement party.
A hazardous weather outlook issued early Sunday for much of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana warned of “gale force winds” and “very hazardous waves,” according to the National Weather Service.
The vehicle was later recovered from the river but no one was inside.
"I need somebody to help me, tell me something, help me find him," Simunjak said.
