Prison sentence handed down in fatal Twin-Cities hit-and-run crash

Posted on June 24, 2020
Jose Rodriguez. (Photo courtesy: Bloomington Police)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – An undocumented immigrant from Honduras, who was living in Bloomington, is headed to prison for the hit-and-run death of a Twin-Cities man a year ago.

A McLean County Judge on Tuesday sentenced Jose Rodriguez to seven years behind bars for his guilty plea to leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Authorities said Rodriguez drove a van without a license and ran a red light at Main Street and MacArthur Avenue in Bloomington on June 22 of last year His van struck a motorcycle, killing its driver, Corey Cottrell, 39 of Normal.

Rodriguez fled the scene, but surrendered the next day at the Bloomington Police Department.

Prosecutors recommended a 12-year sentence, while the defense argued for probation before Judge Scott Drazewski handed down the seven-year sentence.

A source familiar with the situation said Rodriguez is likely to be deported after he serves his sentence.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

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