Crime & Safety

Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Driving Charges Filed Against Redmond Man in Death of Cyclist

Nathan Godwin is accused of driving under the influence in the crash that killed Kirkland software engineer Bradley Nakatani.

Charges of vehicular homicide and reckless driving were filed Monday against Nathan Jeremie Godwin of Redmond in the death of a Kirkland bicyclist last Thursday on the Totem Lake area.

Godwin, 26, was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, marijuana and prescription medication when he hit and killed software engineer at about 3 a.m. Thursday while driving a Ford Excursion. Nakatani died instantly of a skull fracture and other injuries.

According to charging documents, Godwin told police he had consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana prior to the crash and was also using prescription medications Suboxone, which he uses to treat an opiate addiction, and Lexapro, an anti-depressant. He admitted to going 60 mph in a 35 mph zone, court documents state, and told police he thought he had hit a cyclist but continued driving for a block before a passenger in his vehicle woke up and told him to go back. 

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Godwin was taken to the King County Jail in Seattle Thursday and in his first court appearance on Friday, bail was set at $500,000. He posted bond late Friday evening and was released.

King County District Court records show Godwin has an extensive history of traffic violations and pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment in 2004 after he crashed into the jersey barrier on I-90 while traveling in excess of 90 mph.

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Godwin's formal arraignment has been set for Dec. 22 at the King County Courthouse in Seattle. If convicted of the charges, he faces a standard sentencing range under state guidelines of 36 to 48 months in prison.

Extensive history

Nathan Jeremie Godwin, the 26-year-old Redmond man who , has an extensive history of traffic violations dating back to 2003.

According to King County District Court records, Godwin has been cited more than 20 times for violations ranging from failure to wear a seatbelt to reckless endangerment.

One of the most serious infractions occurred in 2004, when Godwin crashed his 1999 Honda Civic into the jersey barrier of I-90 in Seattle. Investigators determined Godwin had been traveling at least 90 mph at the time of the crash; a witness said he was racing another vehicle across the freeway, but Godwin denied it.

Godwin pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and was ordered to pay an $885 fine, serve four days of community service and attend traffic safety school.

In 2005, he was pulled over on Redmond Way for speeding and making rapid, unsignaled lane changes. When the police officer made contact with him, court documents indicate Godwin responded, "Hey, faggot." He also told the officer he had stolen his own car, and received a $202 ticket for not having a front license plate and failing to show his registration.

Five months later, he was pulled over again on Redmond Way, this time for going 55 mph in a 40-mph zone, and reportedly flipped off the police officer who issued him the speeding ticket.

Police say Godwin was intoxicated early Thursday morning when his SUV collided with 36-year-old , an avid cyclist who died at the scene.


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