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0000017b-35e5-df5e-a97b-35edafbc0000When a pickup truck slammed into a group of bicyclists on a rural road in Kalamazoo County on June 7, 2016, five riders were killed and four were seriously injured. In 2016, 38 bicyclists died on Michigan's roadways, a 10-year high. In our three-part series for "Morning Edition" called "Sharing the Road," Michigan Radio's Doug Tribou looks at the current state of bicycling and the future of bike safety in Michigan.Also, a survivor of the Kalamazoo County crash shares the story of how his life has changed in the year since.

Trial for man who killed five cyclists with his car begins in Kalamazoo

exterior of kalamazoo county courthouse
Charles W. Chapman
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Wikimedia Commons, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
Charles Pickett Jr. will be on trial at the Kalamazoo County Court for a June 2016 incident which left five cyclists dead and four injured

The trial for a Battle Creek man who is accused of fatally striking five cyclists in Kalamazoo began this week, with witnesses taking the stand for the first time Wednesday.

Charles Pickett Jr. has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly hitting nine cyclists with his pick up truck in a June 2016 incident. Five of the cyclists died as a result of the crash.

Toxicology reports show that Pickett was under the influence of muscle relaxers and other depressants at the time of the crash. 

The trial at Kalamazoo County Court is expected to last until late next week. Pickett faces life in prison if he is found guilty. 

Bryce Huffman was Michigan Radio’s West Michigan Reporter and host of Same Same Different. He is currently a reporter for Bridge Detroit.
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