A quiet Saturday morning walk turned tragic in Hopkinton, Rhode Island. Roderick “Rory” MacLeod, a respected 70-year-old musician, was killed on December 6. He was hit by a car while walking his dog.
The crash happened around 7:20 a.m. on Route 138. Police say a black SUV, driven by 41-year-old Shannon Godbout, swerved out of its lane. The vehicle hit several objects before striking MacLeod.
Neighbor Marilyn Grant heard the impact. “I just heard two different, heavy loud thumps,” she told NBC 10 News. “I looked out this way and saw a dog just running straight down this way.”
MacLeod’s dog survived the crash and ran back home. Hope Valley Ambulance rushed MacLeod to Rhode Island Hospital. He died there from his injuries.
Who Was Roderick “Rory” MacLeod?
MacLeod was a fixture in the Rhode Island music scene. He was best known as a bassist. In the 1980s, he played with the Grammy-nominated swing band Roomful of Blues.
He was inducted into the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame in 2012. His talent was sought after by many artists. He played on early solo gigs for Roomful of Blues founder Duke Robillard. He also collaborated with folk-blues artist Paul Geremia.
Beyond performing, he was a dedicated teacher. He and his wife, fiddle player Sandol Astrausky, were directors of the Old-Time String Band at Brown University. They taught students to play the banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar.
The band Roomful of Blues posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook. They called MacLeod a “wonderful and gentle soul.” They said there were “no words for such an immense loss.”
The Driver: A History of Over 100 Arrests
The investigation into the crash is ongoing. The Rhode Island State Police Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting Hopkinton Police.
The driver, Shannon N. Godbout, is now in custody. She faces preliminary charges. The charges are “Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death” and a serious drug charge. Police say they found illegal narcotics and drug packaging materials in her car.
Chief Mark J. Carrier detailed Godbout’s lengthy criminal history in a press release. He said Godbout has been arrested more than 100 times. Eight of those arrests were with the Hopkinton Police Department.
She also has 82 court warrants and has received 40 traffic citations. Seven of those citations came from Hopkinton.
After the crash, Godbout was taken to Westerly Hospital for evaluation. She is now being held at Rhode Island Hospital. Police are working with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. They plan to present her in court as a probation violator. Chief Carrier said additional charges are possible as the probe continues.
The community is now mourning the loss of a gentle musician. They are also grappling with the news of the driver’s extensive record. The case has left many asking how someone with such a history was still on the road.
