On Saturday evening around 7:30 p.m., a routine drive down Illinois Route 2 turned tragic when the vehicle carrying Faith Moore, 72, of Rockton, lost control north of Wagon Wheel Road and rolled off the roadway. Emergency crews who arrived found Moore unresponsive inside the overturned vehicle and, despite desperate rescue efforts, she was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say the crash remains under investigation. The Rockton Police Department, the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office, and the Winnebago County Major Crash Assistance Team are all working together to piece together exactly how and why the vehicle lost control.
The coroner’s office responded to the scene later that night, and at 10:34 p.m., confirmed that Moore had passed away. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt force trauma to the head, ruling the injury as a direct result of the rollover.
While initially thought she was a resident of Rockton, more recent news reports specify that Moore was a passenger from Racine, Wisconsin, riding in a vehicle headed northbound when disaster struck. (Earlier statements identified her as from Rockton.) Her role in the crash—as passenger rather than driver—is now clearly stated, though whether the driver sustained injuries has not been clarified.
Very little additional information has been released publicly. It is not yet known whether road conditions, speed, mechanical failure, or another factor caused the vehicle to overturn. Investigators are gathering data, reviewing the vehicle, any available witness statements, and any potential traffic camera footage.
For those who knew Faith, the loss is deeply felt. Described by friends and family as kind, warm, gentle, and loving, Moore was someone whose presence brightened daily interactions. Her sudden passing has left a hole in the lives of many—her compassion, her strength, her quiet character now all the more cherished in memory.
The community is struggling to digest the news, while investigators carry on their difficult work, hoping to bring clarity and understanding to one fateful evening on a rural stretch of road.