Bond reduction hearing set next week for suspect charged with fleeing from fatal crash

Posted on July 31, 2019

*Jose Rodriguez must post $100,035 to be released from custody on the criminal charges. (Bloomington Police Department photo)*

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – The suspect in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Bloomington is asking for a lower bond.

Jose Rodriguez, 27, was initially freed after posting a $10,035 cash bond, but Judge William Yoder raised the bail ten-fold, citing a federal immigration warrant, meaning Rodriguez is jailed again unless he comes up with $100,035 cash.

A bond hearing is set for August 8 before Judge Scott Drazewski, who was just assigned to the case.

Defense attorney Chris Gramm believes the Honduras native is not a flight risk, noting his client turned himself in at the Bloomington Police Department a day after the June 22 crash that killed motorcyclist Corey Cottrell,39, of Normal.

Authorities said Rodriguez was driving a van without a license, and ran a red light, striking Cottrell’s motorcycle at Main Street and MacArthur Avenue, just south of Downtown Bloomington.

Gramm said Wednesday that Rodriguez showed up in court after posting the original bond, and has lived with relatives in Bloomington the past five years.

Rodriguez also faces a lawsuit filed last week on behalf of Cottrell’s two daughters that’s separate from the criminal charges.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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