Tragedy Strikes as Young Woman Loses Life in Hit-and-Run

The family of Mariyah Ford, a 20-year-old from Sauk Village, is mourning the loss of an enthusiastic and caring young woman who aspired to become a phlebotomist. Mariyah was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Illinois Route 394 in Lynwood.

Mariyah was returning from a weekend spent with her aunt, Tanisha Dennis. The two shared a close bond and had enjoyed attending hair and nail appointments together in preparation for a Thornridge High School class reunion. Tanisha recalled Mariyah picking out her outfit for the entire weekend.

The tragedy occurred as Mariyah and Tanisha were driving home from an after-party when their car ran out of fuel. They began walking to a nearby gas station when Mariyah was struck by a vehicle. The sound of the impact has been haunting Tanisha ever since. “It makes it worse, because I hear the falling,” she said. “I keep hearing it.”

Christina Dennis, Mariyah’s mother, is hopeful that sharing her daughter’s story will assist in the investigation by the Illinois State Police. “There ain’t nothing like her — she was my first baby, the original one,” Christina expressed, emphasizing the unique bond they shared.

Many photos showing Mariyah’s vibrant life have been compiled by her family. Christina Dennis urged the individual responsible for the accident to come forward. The authorities responded to the crash early Monday, transporting Mariyah to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead by 3 a.m. The interstate was temporarily closed for the investigation but reopened about an hour later. The investigation remains active, with police not disclosing whether a suspect has been identified.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office reported that Mariyah died due to multiple blunt force injuries. Her birthday had been on the Sunday before the crash, and she and Tanisha had planned several celebrations for August. The pair, who lived together, delighted in surprising each other with generous acts and gifts. Unfortunately, their plans have now shifted to grieving and arranging memorial services.

One of the planned events was a trip to Navy Pier, including renting a boat to admire the city’s nighttime skyline. “She wanted to see the skyline during the nighttime, so she could see the lights better,” Tanisha shared. In addition to her playful, child-like enthusiasm for Disney princesses and animals, Mariyah was focused on her studies, earning top grades and enrolling in a vocational program to pursue a career in phlebotomy.

Mariyah’s younger brother, Tommy Dennis, shared his determination to follow his sister’s shining example. “I try to clean more because I know I can’t do better than Mariyah,” he said. “She does so good in cleaning, her grades are so good. She had big plans for when she got older, and that got took away from her.”