TOWN OF AVON — A Monroe woman died as a result of a motor vehicle crash Feb. 17 in Rock County, according to local authorities.

On Friday, Feb. 17, at 8:26 a.m. deputies from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Wis. 81 approximately 1/2 west of S. Moraity Road in the Town of Avon. Norah A. Saunders, a 71-year-old Monroe woman, was killed.  

Fire/EMS personnel from the Village of Orfordville and City of Beloit also assisted at the scene along with the Rock County Highway Department.

The investigation showed that Sanders’ 2013 Toyota Highlander was traveling eastbound on Wis. 81 when she lost control on the slippery shoulder. The SUV slid across the centerline and into the path of an oncoming 2014 Kenworth, driven by a 70-year-old male from Capron, Ill., which was traveling westbound. Both vehicles collided and came to rest in the westbound lane of traffic.

Sanders was transported to Beloit Memorial Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased about four hours later at 12:33 p.m. The Illinois man appeared uninjured and denied medical attention on scene.

Both drivers had been wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, which remains under investigation at this time. Wis. 81 was closed for four hours as a result.

A forensic examination was completed on February 18, 2023. Preliminary results of the examination confirm that Ms. Sanders died from injuries sustained in the crash. Additional testing is underway at this time.

No charges or citations are anticipated. This incident remains under investigation by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office and the Rock County Medical Examiner’s Department.