GUILTY Mi - Five Cyclists Killed, 4 Injured In Kalamazoo Co., 7 June 2016

[AzPistonsGirl]

Something similar happened in our area a few months ago. The driver was suspected of DUI, but local police didn't test him. He got off with probation. The mayor where it occurred hates bicyclists on the roads, he showed no sympathy to the victims or families.

glad that mayor is not a judge!

 

[bluesneakers]

Something similar happened in our area a few months ago. The driver was suspected of DUI, but local police didn't test him. He got off with probation. The mayor where it occurred hates bicyclists on the roads, he showed no sympathy to the victims or families.

Sounds a lot like our old mayor who had separated bike lanes ripped up because cars are more important.

 

[LaborDayRN]

ALAMAZOO — Bedford Township resident Charles Edward Pickett Jr. has been charged with five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of reckless driving.

Kalamazoo County District Court Judge Christopher Haenicke authorized the charges Thursday afternoon. If convicted, Pickett faces life in prison.

The 50-year-old did not appear in court. In a news conference, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said he will be arraigned when he is "medically able."

He did not give further details of Pickett's condition, citing patient-privacy laws
http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/...ged-second-degree-murder-bike-crash/85658624/

There's also a link to the drivers facebook page in the article.

 

[bluesneakers]

Medically able so maybe he was injured while driving?

eta
I looked at his FB page.
Ugh.
Ick.
I wish I hadn't.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Driver was on drugs when Michigan bicyclists were killed, prosecutor says

Bicyclists were riding in Cooper Township when Charles Pickett hit them

Posted: 1:05 PM, June 22, 2016
Updated: 1:12 PM, June 22, 2016

KALAMAZOO, Mich - A prosecutor says a man accused of plowing his pickup truck into a group of Michigan bicyclists, killing five, was under the influence of drugs.

The disclosure was made Wednesday as new charges were filed against Charles Pickett Jr., who already faces second-degree murder charges in the June 7 crash in Kalamazoo County...

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/...en-michigan-bicyclists-were-killed-police-say

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/ne...22/judge-lawyers-killing-bicyclists/86221570/

 

[JnRyan]

Since I can't run anymore, cycling is my exercise and my sport. TOO many times I've seen a driver - with clear visibility - hit and either kill or severely injure a cyclist and not be charged with anything. I have two friends who were hit on a Sunday morning by a driver who was still drunk at 0700 on a summer morning and so drunk that a witness had to dial 911 on the driver's phone. The driver was not tested for intoxication and a family member was allowed to drive them home. The two cyclists went to hospital and one had multiple surgeries. The driver was charged with reckless driving only.

I hate to see this, but it appears that for once LE and the prosecutor have tried to do the right thing. That is still no comfort to their families, though.

 

[kimi_SFC]

Since I can't run anymore, cycling is my exercise and my sport. TOO many times I've seen a driver - with clear visibility - hit and either kill or severely injure a cyclist and not be charged with anything. I have two friends who were hit on a Sunday morning by a driver who was still drunk at 0700 on a summer morning and so drunk that a witness had to dial 911 on the driver's phone. The driver was not tested for intoxication and a family member was allowed to drive them home. The two cyclists went to hospital and one had multiple surgeries. The driver was charged with reckless driving only.

I hate to see this, but it appears that for once LE and the prosecutor have tried to do the right thing. That is still no comfort to their families, though.

This is incredible, JnRyan.
I have no words....



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JnRyan]

This is incredible, JnRyan.
I have no words....

San Francisco. You have an infamous case out your way. Joy Covey had a BS in accounting and BOTH a Harvard MBA and a Harvard law degree. She was Amazon's first chief financial officer and later the chief strategy officer helping Amazon becoming what it is now. She had stepped down from Amazon to take a break from that life. At that time Forbes

She was killed while riding on a sunny day in San Mateo at 1:30 PM in 2013. A delivery van made an illegal left turn in front of her. Everything I've searched indicates the driver was never charged.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-cfo-during-ipo-dies-in-bicycling-crash-at-50

 

[bluesneakers]

"My heart bleeds for them when someone gets killed. But it's their own fault at the end of the day." - Rob Ford

Too many people agree with what he said and that's why drivers get away with it. I hear so many people complain about cyclists as if the few who are reckless justify the others being hit, and it also annoys me how people assume you either ride or drive and it's a war between two sides.

I'm glad to see LE going after this driver and I hope the families get what little peace they can get seeing justice served.

 

[0101ABA]

Within two hours of running down nine bicyclists, Charles Pickett Jr. took handfuls of pain pills and muscle relaxers, police reports say.

Police also reported finding marijuana and methamphetamine in his truck after the June 7 crash.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/07/kalamazoo_cycling_crash_suspec.html

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

"My heart bleeds for them when someone gets killed. But it's their own fault at the end of the day." - Rob Ford

Too many people agree with what he said and that's why drivers get away with it. I hear so many people complain about cyclists as if the few who are reckless justify the others being hit, and it also annoys me how people assume you either ride or drive and it's a war between two sides.

I'm glad to see LE going after this driver and I hope the families get what little peace they can get seeing justice served.

I had never read that quote by Rob Ford before at it really ticks me off. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am an avid cyclist and it's unbelievable how many drivers hurl verbal abuse at you or try to drive as close as possible to cyclists without actually hitting them because they simply don't want to share the road and figure intimidation is their only weapon. They can be so freakin nasty! It's stories like this that scare the day lights out of me.

 

[JnRyan]

I had never read that quote by Rob Ford before at it really ticks me off. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am an avid cyclist and it's unbelievable how many drivers hurl verbal abuse at you or try to drive as close as possible to cyclists without actually hitting them because they simply don't want to share the road and figure intimidation is their only weapon. They can be so freakin nasty! It's stories like this that scare the day lights out of me.

Same here!

 

[bluesneakers]

Hearing delayed until Nov. 7 in Kalamazoo bike crash case

New hearing date is November 7th. He's charged with five counts of operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death, five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury. He's been found competent to stand trial.

Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein said the hearing was delayed to allow for more than just a half day. The examination, set before District Judge Vincent Westra, will determine if enough evidence exists to send the case to Kalamazoo County Circuit Court for trial.

 

[bluesneakers]

Vehicles must stay 5 feet away while passing bicycles on Kalamazoo streets

Kalamazoo's City Commission voted to amend an ordinance that increases the distance motorists must maintain when passing cyclists.

After deciding to increase the distance from 3 feet at the Sept. 6 meeting, commissioners unanimously voted to amend the two sections of the Kalamazoo Code of Ordinances during their Monday, Sept. 19 business meeting.

The change from 3 to 5 feet was spearheaded by members of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club, including newsletter editor Doug Kirk, who pushed for action after the tragic crash on June 7.

"There's no question that we have to alert our drivers to be more careful, especially light in terrible event we had in last six months," Cooney said.

I guess one way of looking at it is something good that came out of the crash. It's a shame that's what it took though.

I wondered what the situation wrt to separated bike lanes in Kalamazoo?

 

[bluesneakers]

Experienced bicyclists were doing everything right when struck by truck

The group of four bicyclists Valerie Litznerski was riding with Thursday night had flashing taillights on their bicycles, and wore flashing lights. Their bicycles were marked with reflective material, and so was their clothing.

All four of the riders were very experienced and well equipped for night riding, said Litznerski, secretary of the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club.

"We do things right," she said. "We are all really proud of our night gear."

"The hit-and-run nature of this incident underscores the need for stronger legal protections for vulnerable roadway users, both locally and in Lansing," Selden said. "bicyclists and pedestrians don't stand a chance when struck by a motor vehicle."

 

[bluesneakers]

Man charged in deaths of five Michigan bicyclists sent to trial

A man who plowed into a group of bicyclists with his pickup truck, killing five, has been ordered to stand trial on second-degree murder charges in southwestern Michigan.

And even though painkillers and meth showed up in his blood test his attorney says it was "a tragedy" not an intentional act.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2017/03/driver_in_crash_that_killed_5.html

Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Bridenstine has denied a motion from Charles Pickett Jr.'s defense attorneys, Alan Koenig and Keith Turpel.

The attorneys had argued that the prosecution failed to provide probable cause to bind Pickett over to circuit court on the second-degree murder charges, and that the district court abused its discretion when it did so following a preliminary examination on the evidence.

Pickett is accused of driving drugged and plowing into a group of bicyclists, killing five, on June 7, 2016. He faces five counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, five counts of second-degree murder and four counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury.

He could face up to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder.

A trial is scheduled next month, with jury selection to start April 24 and the trial to start April 25. However, Koenig on March 15 filed a notice of intention to use the insanity defense and Pickett was ordered to undergo an evaluation for criminal responsibility at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti. That evaluation could cause the trial to be postponed.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Trial rescheduled for Charles Pickett Jr. in fatal bicycle crash

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2017/04/trial_rescheduled_for_charles.html

Pickett's trial is expected to start with jury selection Sept. 18 and opening statements Sept. 19 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court Judge Paul J. Bridenstine's courtroom, according to court documents. His trial had been scheduled for jury selection on April 24 and opening statements April 25.

A settlement conference is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Pickett's defense attorney Alan Koenig in March filed a notice to use the insanity defense in Pickett's case. He has been ordered to undergo an evaluation for criminal responsibility at the state's Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti, which has caused a delay in the case.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Appellate court denies Charles Pickett Jr.'s application on murder charges

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2017/08/charles_pickett_jr_1.html

In an order dated Friday, July 28, the Michigan Court of Appeals denied Pickett's application for leave to appeal his second-degree murder charges stemming from the June 2016 crash that killed five bicyclists and injured four.

The denial paves the way for Pickett's trial. Jury selected is slated for Sept. 18 and opening statements are scheduled for Sept. 19 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Fatal bike crash trial delayed for appeal to Michigan Supreme Court

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2017/08/charles_picketts_trial_on_hold.html

The trial in the June 2016 fatal bicycle crash in Kalamazoo is on hold as Charles Pickett Jr.'s attorneys prepare to take the case to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Pickett's trial was scheduled to start Sept. 18 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court, but a judge ordered a stay in the proceedings pending the outcome of Pickett's appeal.