A northern Illinois woman is dead following a one-vehicle rollover sometime in the early hours of June 14.

According to the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 5:45 a.m. emergency personnel responded to the area of U.S. Route 20 and North Tower Road just northeast of Freeport in rural Stephenson County following a report from a passing motorist of a single-vehicle rollover traffic crash.

Upon arrival, deputies located the sole occupant and driver of the vehicle, a 31-year-old female from Freeport, Illinois, outside of the vehicle. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Based on the preliminary investigation, the vehicle was traveling westbound on U.S. Route 20 when it left the roadway, entered the north ditch, became airborne after striking a bridge embankment, rolled over multiple times, and came to rest in the north ditch.

Preliminary investigative efforts indicate the crash may have occurred several hours before it was discovered and reported to emergency personnel. Evidence located at the scene further suggests the driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office and the Stephenson County Coroner’s Office. The driver’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Freeport Rural Fire Protection District, Freeport Rural Ambulance Service, and the Stephenson County Coroner’s Office.