Woman dies in crash with fleeing burglary suspects

ROCKFORD (AP) — A 58-year-old Rockford woman died after three alleged car burglars fleeing from a sheriff's deputy crashed their vehicle into her car.

Winnebago County Coroner Sue Fiduccia says Karen Shafer died about 40 minutes after the crash Sunday afternoon.

The Rockford Register Star reports (http://bit.ly/V0FEXd) police had received reports of people trying to break into cars in a church parking lot. A Winnebago County sheriff's deputy spotted the possible suspects who drove off in a vehicle that then crashed into Shafer's car at an intersection.

Shafer was an obstetrics nurse who worked at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for 38 years.

Police continue to investigate.