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Photos of damaged bikes, pickup show horror of Kalamazoo crash ...
src: media.mlive.com

On June 7, 2016, a pickup truck crashed into a group of cyclists in Cooper Township in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Five cyclists were killed in the crash, and four were injured. Paul Selden, the Director of Road Safety for the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club, called the crash "the worst of its kind in Kalamazoo County, and possibly in the entire state of Michigan".


Video Kalamazoo bicycle crash



Crash and investigation

Witnesses noticed a pickup truck driving erratically around Cooper Township. The pickup was reported to the police, 30 minutes before the crash occurred.

Around 6:30 PM (Eastern Time), on Westnedge Avenue near Markin Glen Park in Cooper Township, the pickup collided with the back of the group of cyclists. The group of bicyclists involved in the crash is called the "Chain Gang". The driver of the pickup escaped, but was soon arrested. Rescue services arrived two minutes after the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead an investigation of the crash because of its overall impact. On July 29, 2016, the NTSB issued its preliminary report on the event. They ruled that the driver of the pickup truck "had used medication and illicit drugs before the crash."


Maps Kalamazoo bicycle crash



Suspect

The suspect in the bicycle crash was Charles Pickett Jr, a 50-year-old man living in Battle Creek, who drove the pickup in the crash. He was arrested for driving under the influence in Tennessee in 2011, but the charge was dismissed. Investigators have not determined the cause of Pickett's erratic driving that led to the crash.

The Kalamazoo County Prosecutor charged Pickett with five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving.

On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor amended the Charges to included five counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death. The charges were added after the Prosecutors Office reviewed information from the Michigan State Police Crime Lab finished its toxicology report. The Kalamazoo Prosecutor declined to identify the substance which the driver was under.

In addition to those charges the Kalamazoo Prosecutor has also charged Pickett with four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, which replace the reckless driving charges he had faced.


Kalamazoo bicycle crash victim making 'significant strides ...
src: content.wzzm13.com


Reactions

Residents of Kalamazoo, who were affected by a shooting spree of February 2016, sympathized with the victims of the crash. Cyclist groups also mourned for the families of the 5 victims.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong sympathized with the families of the victims of the crash, and in an interview on Fox 17 (WXMI-TV) he called the crash "so tragic".


Photos of damaged bikes, pickup show horror of Kalamazoo crash ...
src: media.mlive.com


References


Deadly K'zoo bicycle crash may renew safer road push | Fox17
src: tribwxmi.files.wordpress.com


External links

Source of the article : Wikipedia

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