An Elgin woman was killed on the morning of Monday, Jan. 22 after she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident near Route 31 and Oak Street in North Aurora.

According to Kane County Sheriff’s Lt. Patrick Gengler, the crash occurred around 7 a.m., and appears to have been a result of icy road conditions.

Deputies said the initial investigation revealed that Monica Cruz, 41, of Elgin, was driving her Mercury SUV on Route 31, just north of Oak Street in unincorporated Batavia Township when she apparently lost control on the icy roadway and crossed the center line.

Cruz’s vehicle entered the southbound traffic lane and was struck by a southbound PACE bus that had been traveling on Route 31, Gengler said

Following the impact, the Pace bus pushed Cruz’s SUV back into the northbound lanes of traffic where she struck a northbound Honda Civic driven by Mark Williams, 50, of Oswego.

After striking the Honda, the SUV was struck by a GMC van, driven by Raul Gomez-Cabanas, 62, of Aurora, that was traveling north on Route 31, according to Gengler.  Williams and Gomez-Cabanas were uninjured.

The driver of the PACE bus, Joeann Lawson, 52, of Aurora, and one passenger were transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.  The other passenger on the bus was uninjured.

Cruz was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to the sheriff’s department, icy road conditions Monday morning appear to have played a role in the fatal crash.  The incident remains under investigation and no citations have been issued.

Route 31 was closed between North Aurora and Batavia until 11 a.m., while the crash was being investigated.

—- Elgin woman dies in North Aurora crash involving PACE bus —