Rodney L. Arbuckle, 57, of Normal, passed away on the evening of Wednesday, November 12, after being hit by an SUV in Bloomington, the McLean County Coroner’s Office confirmed. Coroner Kathleen Yoder said he died at 7:50 p.m. at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center due to head injuries suffered in the collision.
The crash occurred around 7:10 p.m. on Veterans Parkway in the stretch between Oakland Avenue and East Lincoln Street — an area without a crosswalk, according to Bloomington Police. Officers who arrived immediately began rendering aid until the Bloomington Fire Department took over and then transported Arbuckle to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities say the SUV driver stayed at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigation. Given the severity of the crash, both the McLean County Accident Reconstruction Team and the Coroner’s Office launched a detailed investigation, which remains active.
According to Bloomington police Chief Jamal Simington, visibility may have played a role: at night, pedestrians can be especially hard to see, and it’s often hard to gauge how fast a vehicle was traveling. He stressed that both drivers and pedestrians share responsibilities for safety and compliance with traffic laws.
The Coroner’s preliminary autopsy backed up the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. No further details about Arbuckle’s personal life or family have been released publicly, and no criminal charges have been announced at this time.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has relevant information to call Bloomington officer Jeff Linden at (309) 820-8888.
In the wake of this tragedy, Arbuckle’s death has reignited conversations about safety on Veterans Parkway, especially in stretches without crosswalks or other pedestrian protections. It’s a sad reminder of how dangerous roadways can be—and how quickly a life can be lost.
