Community mourns loss of bicyclist killed in Kirkland wreck
Police say reflectors and safe cycling couldn't keep a Kirkland man from driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
That driver of an SUV struck and killed a bicyclist on NE 124th on Thursday, according to investigators. The victim has been identified as Brad Nakatani.
According to the scene report by police, the driver had trouble with his field sobriety test and admitted to having had before driving a mixed drink in addition to medication for treatment of an opiate addiction. The report says the driver, Jeremie Godwin, only blew a 0.78 during the breath test.
Godwin appeared in court on Friday when his bail was set at $500,000.
On Friday afternoon, just hours after the suspect faced a judge, the victim's friends returned to the scene of the crash, hoping to find answers.
Co-workers, family and even bicyclists who didn't even know him have all shown up to pay respects to Brad Nakatani, and to remind others to respect the road.
"He was a very gentle soul. He would give you the shirt off his back. He was always helping me out with my mom and dad, who are 97 and 93," said the victim's aunt, Sharon Yorita.
A smaller group of relatives and friends planned to stay at the scene for several hours on Friday night to remind drivers to look out for bicyclists who share the road.
That driver of an SUV struck and killed a bicyclist on NE 124th on Thursday, according to investigators. The victim has been identified as Brad Nakatani.
According to the scene report by police, the driver had trouble with his field sobriety test and admitted to having had before driving a mixed drink in addition to medication for treatment of an opiate addiction. The report says the driver, Jeremie Godwin, only blew a 0.78 during the breath test.
Godwin appeared in court on Friday when his bail was set at $500,000.
On Friday afternoon, just hours after the suspect faced a judge, the victim's friends returned to the scene of the crash, hoping to find answers.
Co-workers, family and even bicyclists who didn't even know him have all shown up to pay respects to Brad Nakatani, and to remind others to respect the road.
"He was a very gentle soul. He would give you the shirt off his back. He was always helping me out with my mom and dad, who are 97 and 93," said the victim's aunt, Sharon Yorita.
A smaller group of relatives and friends planned to stay at the scene for several hours on Friday night to remind drivers to look out for bicyclists who share the road.
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