> At a Glance
> – Suzanna Garcia, 38, died after being left alone in a crashed SUV on New Year’s Day
> – Driver fled the scene after the vehicle hit a pole on Chicago’s East 95th Street
> – Family pleads for answers and accountability as police search for the driver
> – Why it matters: A hit-and-run leaves three children without a mother and a family desperate for justice
A Chicago mother rang in 2026 with fatal injuries, allegedly abandoned in a wrecked SUV while the driver escaped into the night. Now her relatives are begging for the person responsible to come forward.
Crash on the Calumet River Bridge
At roughly 5:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, a gray GMC struck a pole on the 3400 block of East 95th Street. The SUV sustained heavy front-end damage, spun to face oncoming traffic, and deployed the passenger-side airbag.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business shows the vehicle veering across the road before impact. When first responders arrived, they found Suzanna Garcia unconscious in the passenger seat with head and body trauma. Paramedics transported her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
A Family’s Anguish
Chicago police say the driver ran off before help arrived, leaving the 38-year-old alone.
Ascension Andrade, Garcia’s father, voiced the family’s disbelief:
> “The person that was with her really left the scene. I don’t know; it just doesn’t add up.”
Her mother, Maricela Andrade, believes prompt action could have saved her daughter:
> “Maybe she would’ve had a chance… we would’ve preferred that than where she is now.”
Arcelia Pimentel, Garcia’s aunt, says unanswered questions compound their grief:
> “We’re never going to have complete closure, but having answers… eases the pain for us as a family.”
Search for the Driver
Authorities have not identified the driver and no arrests have been made. Police are reviewing additional surveillance clips and ask anyone with information to come forward.
Ascension Andrade has a direct plea:
> “Just turn yourself in. Just face the consequence.”
| Crash Details | Description |
|---|---|
| Time | ~5:00 a.m., Jan. 1, 2026 |
| Location | 3400 block E. 95th St., Chicago |
| Vehicle | Gray GMC SUV |
| Damage | Front-end, facing opposite travel, airbag deployed |
| Victim | Suzanna Garcia, 38, mother of three |
Community Support
A GoFundMe organized by family friend Joyce Gaa-Delacy has raised over $10,000 toward a $12,000 goal to support Garcia’s three children and cover funeral costs.
The page remembers her as:
> “A loving and devoted mother… the center of her world,”
and
> “A cherished daughter… and beloved sister… lovingly remembered by many.”
Key Takeaways
- Hit-and-run on New Year’s Day claims the life of Suzanna Garcia, 38
- Driver still at large; Chicago police continue investigation
- Family urges the motorist to surrender and provide closure
- Fundraiser surpasses $10,000 for her three children
As the first homicide investigation of 2026 unfolds on the city’s Southeast Side, relatives cling to hope that tips from the public will lead to an arrest-and the answers they desperately need.
