BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A man accused of hitting two pedestrians, fatally injuring one, in a hit-and-run crash in Oildale faces a court-indicated sentence of a year in jail and felony probation, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Steven Frank Godwin, 40, last week made what’s called an “open plea” — entering no contest pleas to all charges in the hope the judge gives a lesser sentence than prosecutors seek.
Godwin pleaded no contest to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, presenting a false insurance claim, hit-and-run causing death and destroying or concealing evidence, court records show.
He’s scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 3.
Shortly after midnight on June 24, 2023, California Highway Patrol officers were called to a crash scene at North Chester and Lincoln avenues and found two pedestrian who were seriously injured. One died.
Video was located of a 2019 black Ford F-250 in the area just before the crash, according to a court document. A license plate check showed it was registered to Godwin.
The truck was found at an autobody shop.
“The damage to the front of the vehicle was consistent with a vehicle versus pedestrian crash, and additional damage was located which indicated the vehicle had been intentionally damaged,” according to the document.
Days later, the document says, Godwin went to the CHP-Bakersfield office and admitted involvement in the crash. He also admitted to giving false information to his insurance company and destroying evidence.
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