MONROE — Police in Lafayette County say they are continuing to investigate after an elderly Beloit man was killed in a one-crash last Wednesday that sent his vehicle into the Pecatonica River.

According to initial reports from the sheriff’s office, deputies were alerted to the scene at about 3:50 p.m. in the 19000 block of State Hwy. 78 in the Town of Blanchard. There, they noticed damage to the guardrail on the southbound side of the highway  

“The Deputy’s investigation of the damaged guardrail led to the discovery of a vehicle submerged in the East Branch of the Pecatonica River west of the bridge, just north of the damaged guardrail,” police said in a statement. “Blanchardville Fire Department and EMS along with the Argyle Fire Department were paged to the scene.”

Rescue crews on scene then found the body of 73-year-old Eugene L. Dinger in his submerged, 2014 Chevrolet Cruze.

Police determined that at some time overnight on December 6 — or in the early morning hours of December 7 — Dinger was traveling northbound on State Hwy. 78, when the vehicle crossed over the southbound lane before striking the end of the guardrail. The Cruze then veered beyond that guardrail, and went airborne before landing in the river. 

Dinger was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lafayette County Coroner’s Office, police said, adding that the matter remains under investigation.