Nationwide — Sheila Harris, a 75-year-old African American woman from Gary, Indiana, died after her car sank into contaminated water near Buffington Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 17. Emergency crews spent hours working to recover her vehicle because hazardous conditions prevented divers from reaching it safely.
She called 911 after her white Hyundai entered the water and began sinking. Authorities responded to the emergency call but initially could not find the vehicle. Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage to determine where the car had entered the water.
According to People, divers from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources could not reach the submerged vehicle because of the dangerous conditions and water contamination. Officials eventually located the car about 12 feet underwater. They paused recovery efforts while arranging specialized equipment to make the operation safer.
The Gary Police Department said crews deployed pumps to remove the contaminated water and lower the water level. The work continued overnight as emergency personnel prepared to recover the vehicle. Once the water level dropped enough, a hazardous materials team was able to access the area and safely retrieve the car.
Authorities recovered the vehicle and decontaminated it on Sunday, Oct. 18. They then discovered Harris’ body inside. The Lake County Coroner’s Office confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Monday, Oct. 19. Officials have not yet determined the cause or manner of death, and the circumstances that led to her car entering the water remain unclear.
Meanwhile, Harris’ family is making arrangements for her funeral. Harris’ family has also started a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover her funeral expenses. Her relatives said they were working to finalize arrangements for her services. It has so far raised over $3,000.