Eleanor “Norah” Sloatman, a 17-year-old senior at Auburn High School in Rockford, Illinois, died Tuesday, November 10, when the car she was driving collided with a school bus near the intersection of Spring Creek and Welsh roads. The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office confirmed her identity on Thursday, and school officials notified families in a letter. Authorities said no students on the bus were seriously hurt. Police have not released a cause for the crash.
The Rockford school bus crash on Tuesday morning has left a school community and a local theatre grieving a young woman who was described by those who worked with her as kind, capable and generous.
What Happened Near Spring Creek and Welsh Roads
The collision happened on Tuesday morning, as students were traveling to school, near the intersection of Spring Creek Road and Welsh Road in Rockford. Authorities said Sloatman was driving a passenger vehicle that collided with a school bus. The impact left significant damage to the front of her vehicle. The bus reportedly left the road and came to rest in the front yard of a nearby home.
Emergency crews were called, and Sloatman was pronounced dead at the scene, Winnebago County Deputy Coroner Matt Lane confirmed. Police asked drivers to avoid the intersection while crews worked and investigators examined the scene.
According to police, a southbound school bus carrying 29 students collided with an eastbound passenger vehicle. Authorities initially said no students were hurt. Police later said one student was taken to a hospital for evaluation and released. The other students were taken on to school.
Auburn High School Notifies Families
In a letter sent to families, Auburn High School principals Ryan Nachreiner and Scott Lazar said 12th-grade student Eleanor “Norah” Sloatman had died as a result of the crash. School officials expressed “heartfelt condolences” to her family, friends and classmates.
Grief counselors from Rockford Public Schools were available to support students, and additional support staff are expected to remain available in the days and weeks ahead. The district said its community is mourning the loss of a student and that support is available for students and staff.
Starlight Theatre Remembers Her
Outside school, Sloatman was part of the Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College, where she worked as a sound assistant, known in theatre as an A2. In a Facebook statement, the theatre called her “one of the most competent and wonderful A2s (sound assistants) and crew members around.”
“Not only was she a capable sound assistant and crew member, but she was a diligent, giving and truly kind soul,” the theatre wrote. “When she knew you well enough to open up to you, she tended to fill your cup rather than the other way around; she was only wonderful.” It also said her “jovial nature and excessive kindness were a boon to everyone fortunate enough to interact with her around showtime,” and that she would be “greatly missed under our roof.”
The Bus Driver and the Wider Community
AFSCME Local 1275, the union that represents Rockford Public Schools bus drivers, said its members were heartbroken and expressed sympathy for the students, families and the driver involved. A union spokesperson said the driver has more than 19 years with the district.
Funeral Information
Funeral services are scheduled for November 13 and 14 at Bethesda Covenant Church in Rockford, according to reports. Visitation and funeral details have also been posted on the Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory website.
What Comes Next
Police have not released further details about how the crash happened, and the investigation is continuing. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
