Sandra S. Laurent Dies in Auburn Car Accident on Illinois Route 104 near Purdom Road
Auburn, Illinois (April 10, 2020) – A three-vehicle crash claimed the life of a 77-year-old Divernon woman Thursday afternoon in Auburn, authorities said.
At about 3:20 p.m. Thursday, April 9, officers responded to the intersection of Illinois Route 104 and Purdom Road for a report of a traffic accident.
According to Illinois State Police District 9, a USPS mail truck and a 2006 GMC Pickup truck towing a trailer with two anhydrous tanks were both heading westbound on Illinois Route 104 when the USPS truck slowed to turn southbound onto Purdom Road.
The driver of the GMC truck failed to slow down and struck the rear of the USPS truck before drifting into the eastbound lanes. The driver observed oncoming traffic and swerved back into the westbound lanes, where the trailer overturned onto a 2010 Buick that was heading westbound on Route 104.
The Buick’s driver, Sandra S. Laurent, 77, of Divernon, died at the scene.
Authorities closed the road for several hours to investigate the crash. As of 8:38 p.m., the road was reopened.
The crash remains under investigation.