Rhode Island man, former member of Grammy-nominated group, being remembered after fatal injuries while walking his dogs

A Rhode Island man killed in a fatal crash this weekend is being remembered.

Rhode Island Music Hall of Famer Roderick Macleod died from injuries sustained after a vehicle hit him while walking his dogs.

According to the organization, MacLeod was a 2012 inductee as a member of the multi-Grammy nominated group Roomful of Blues. “In addition to his time as bassist with Roomful, Rory enjoyed a career of more than fifty years in a wide variety of settings including his work as the original bassist for the first solo outings of Duke Robillard (class of 2014); extensive recording credits with Paul Geremia (class of 2013); as a member and producer of Jack Smith & The Rockabilly Planet; and many others. He also released one single in 1993 and an album in 1995 as a solo artist. Along the way he taught guitar and banjo in addition to upright bass. In recent years, MacLeod had become a guiding light in the roots music community as a performer and educator alongside his wife and musical partner, fiddler Sandol Astrausky, serving as Teaching Associates at Brown University and directors of Old-Time String Band.”

According to police, on Saturday, at just after 7:15 a.m., the Hopkinton Police responded to a one-car motor vehicle accident in the area of 42 Spring Street (Route 138), Hope Valley. When Officers arrived on scene, they discovered that Macleod had been struck by the vehicle.

At this time, it is believed that the motor vehicle, driven by 41-year-old Shannon N. Godbout was traveling eastbound on Spring Street when she left her lane and struck several objects, including two telephone poles and the 70-year-old Macleod in the shoulder of the eastbound Lane.

Macleod was transported to Rhode Island Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

At the scene of the accident, Officers discovered that Godbout was in possession of numerous illegal narcotics and packaging materials commonly associated with drug distribution. She was placed under arrest at the scene and subsequently transported to Westerly Hospital for medical evaluations by Ashaway Ambulance.

Godbout is facing preliminary charges for the following criminal offenses:

– Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death

– Possession of narcotics, Schedule I/II with intent to distribute, 3rd plus offense

She will be scheduled to appear before a Justice of the Peace and presented to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office as a criminal violator for past charges for which she is currently on suspended sentences/probation.

Godbout’s criminal history includes over 100 arrests, with 8 of them from the Hopkinton Police Department. 82 court warrants have been issued for Godbout previously. Godbout has received 40 traffic citations, with 7 of them issued by Hopkinton Police.

This accident is currently under investigation with assistance from the Rhode Island State Police Accident Reconstruction Team. Additional charges may be brought against Godbout as further evidence is gathered.