Man sentenced for fatal hit and run in Bloomington

Posted on June 24, 2020
Rodriguez
Jose Rodriguez has been sentenced to prison for the hit and run that took Corey Cattrell’s life. (Bloomington Police Department photo)

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 one year ago.

A McLean County Judge 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.

News partner Heart of Illinois ABC reports 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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