Rhode Island Woman's Reckless Driving Ends Life of Grammy-Nominated Musician Roderick Macleod

A devastating car crash in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, on Saturday claimed the life of Roderick Macleod, a 70-year-old musician and educator, who was walking his dogs on Spring Street. The driver behind the fatal accident, Shannon Godbout, a 41-year-old Rhode Island woman with a notorious history of over 100 prior arrests, was arrested at the scene. According to police, Godbout, who was driving on eastbound Spring Street, lost control of her vehicle and crashed into the sidewalk, hitting two telephone poles before striking Macleod. The musician, who was a bassist for the Grammy-nominated band Roomful of Blues in the 1980s, was severely injured and died at the hospital. Godbout's arrest record is marred with at least 84 court warrants and 40 instances of traffic citations. At the time of her arrest, police found narcotics and drug distribution materials in her car. She faces charges of narcotics-related offenses and endangering the life of a pedestrian while driving. Hopkinton Police are exploring additional criminal charges against her. Roderick Macleod, a Hopkinton resident, was a renowned musician and educator who also taught at Brown University. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame in 2014 for his contributions to the music scene. His legacy will be remembered through his work with Roomful of Blues, a band known for their high-energy jump blues and swing revival sound.