EVERETT — A Lynnwood man faces about two years in prison for racing his car and causing a wreck that killed Nicholas Gorrell.
Jonathan Tiv, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon to vehicular homicide.
Prosecutors allege that Tiv was racing another car along Evergreen Way on Aug. 21, 2009 when he collided with Gorrell’s Toyota Corolla.
Gorrell, 25, was southbound on Evergreen Way. He had pulled into the center turn lane and was turning left into a store parking lot. Tiv broad-sided the Toyota. Gorrell’s car crumpled under the impact.
He died at the scene.
Witnesses told investigators that Tiv, whose pregnant girlfriend was in the passenger seat next to him, was racing with another car along Evergreen Way just before the crash. Witnesses estimated that the two cars were traveling 75 to 85 mph. The posted speed limit is 35 mph.
Tiv’s car left about 36 feet of skid marks before colliding with Gorrell’s car, court papers said. Everett police detective Craig Davis estimated from the skid marks that Tiv was driving at least 65 mph before braking, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Tobin Darrow wrote in court papers.
Tiv initially denied racing and told detectives the Corolla pulled out in front of him. Later he admitted that he’d been racing with another car, court papers said.
He said he “looked forward and floored it …” Darrow wrote.
Tiv is scheduled to be sentenced in July. He has no prior convictions. The high-end sentence under the law is two years and three months in prison.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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