5 dead, 4 injured after truck plows into bicyclists in Michigan

[Helene2013]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/08/us/kalamazoo-bicyclists-dead/index.html

You can see in the pics in the link below the damages to bikes. ouch.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2016/06/was_pickup_driver_drunk_when_h.html

Deepest sympathies to family and friends of the victims. :(

[Crankin]

I saw this last night. Gee, I wonder if the guy will actually get convicted.

[Pax]

How horrible.

Crankin, I saw this and my second thought was "toss up, drunk or malicious" and "bet he walks away scot free".

[emily_in_nc]

Saw this on the news last night. SO tragic! I just hate it for all of the families. :( :( :(

[zoom-zoom]

This is semi-local to me...<90 minutes away. I am bittersweetly relieved to not know any of the victims, but people I know are familiar with some.

The initial reports were that the guy was drunk and fled, but a more recent statement was that he didn't run, but didn't render aid. And also that he didn't "appear" to be drunk. Still awaiting toxicology reports. He was reported to be driving erratically by several sources 30 minutes before running down the group of riders.

I've seen his FB page. It made me ill. He's quite clearly a racist, sexist cretin. I would not be the least bit surprised to learn that he was sober and purposefully targeted the cyclists.

[Pax]

This is semi-local to me...<90 minutes away. I am bittersweetly relieved to not know any of the victims, but people I know are familiar with some.

The initial reports were that the guy was drunk and fled, but a more recent statement was that he didn't run, but didn't render aid. And also that he didn't "appear" to be drunk. Still awaiting toxicology reports. He was reported to be driving erratically by several sources 30 minutes before running down the group of riders.

I've seen his FB page. It made me ill. He's quite clearly a racist, sexist cretin. I would not be the least bit surprised to learn that he was sober and purposefully targeted the cyclists.

Seems in rural areas there's a proliferation of the rolling coal, I-hate-cyclists crowd. It was common in certain areas out in farm country to have young men in huge pickups try to clip you with their mirrors and then "roll coal".

[Helene2013]

I thought the name of the truck driver was not out yet!

So far in my area it's not that bad. Worst are always pickups and motorcycles. I'm not a huge fan or road cycling because there is so much I can do to protect myself. They do not roll coal at least.

Not that it would have changed anything but wonder if any of the cyclists had a cam on to see how this driver was before hitting them.

I have enough long cycling paths that I can use in many areas so I feel safer and not as stressed. But I wished I could ride on "real" roads more often and remain safe.

[rebeccaC]

I've seen his FB page. It made me ill. He's quite clearly a racist, sexist cretin. I would not be the least bit surprised to learn that he was sober and purposefully targeted the cyclists.

that is one disgusting Facebook page.....the good part is it certainly won't serve his character well when it can influence his 'hopefully' loooong sentence. somethings make me think for awhile about my strong death penalty opposition....and also the vast disparity in state sentences for negligent homicide in cases like this.

My prayers for the families, friends and others affected by the loss of five people just out for a good ride...

[zoom-zoom]

He'll hopefully be going away for a long time (http://wwmt.com/news/local/prosecutor-releases-list-of-charges-against-kalamazoo-bike-tragedy-suspect). 5 counts of 2nd degree murder...plus 4 counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. This guy now has a wiki page (https://www.everipedia.com/charles-pickett-jr-1/), too.

[rebeccaC]

He'll hopefully be going away for a long time (http://wwmt.com/news/local/prosecutor-releases-list-of-charges-against-kalamazoo-bike-tragedy-suspect). 5 counts of 2nd degree murder...plus 4 counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. This guy now has a wiki page (https://www.everipedia.com/charles-pickett-jr-1/), too.

'with intent' has to make coping with this even harder. sad....

[zoom-zoom]

'with intent' has to make coping with this even harder. sad....

The thing that should scare all of us is the knowledge that there are some who see no issue with what he did...apparently without intoxicants.

[rebeccaC]

I prefer to focus on those grieving but I do hope it’s the life sentence that's possible with those charges and that then has some influence on others like Pickett.....i'm going to follow this as i want to see how it plays out....thanks for the wwmt link!

[AngelontheRoad]

This is so unfortunate - on both sides as no one's lives will be the same. I try to steer clear of the roads and ride rails to trails most of the time - and with a group we are very cautious crossing roadways with "look them in the eye" mandate for all. We are lucky - plus we all check each other for helmets before heading out - once or twice someone forgot to put on or buckle the strap. Safe travels for those of us who try to keep fit and exercise with cycling.....

[Eden]

Angel - this was not an accident, it was a willful act of malice. It was murder. No amount of caution on the part of the cyclists could have prevented it because it was done intentionally. I am very glad the prosecutor is treating it as such. It's no different than if he'd walked out onto the street and shot 9 people.

[north woods gal]

As Eden syas, it was intentional, but if he had walked out on the street and shot people with a gun, it would have made headline news in every news outlet instead of just being page two material. That, and having lived in the Chicago area, I know full well how some drivers hate bicyclists. It's a very tiny minority of motorists, of course, but they are out there and we need to be aware of it.

[OakLeaf]

Meantime, in my town, a first-offense drunk driver who blew a stop sign and seriously injured two people (including her passenger) was just sentenced to four years. Everyone in that case was in a motor vehicle.

Bet this guy doesn't get half that.

[emily_in_nc]

As Eden syas, it was intentional, but if he had walked out on the street and shot people with a gun, it would have made headline news in every news outlet instead of just being page two material. That, and having lived in the Chicago area, I know full well how some drivers hate bicyclists. It's a very tiny minority of motorists, of course, but they are out there and we need to be aware of it.

I disagree that this was "page two material". It made the nightly national news (not just local). I was very heartened to see how much coverage it got amidst all the political and other "important" national news. I heard about it on the news for three days running, which is pretty good for any story that doesn't involve a celebrity or politician!

[Helene2013]

It made the news in Montréal too and opened a big discussion in French as well.

[north woods gal]

Well, there you go. I don't watch the news like I probably should and seldom watch TV. Didn't mean to downplay the incident, of course. Apologize if it came off that way.

[zoom-zoom]

Meantime, in my town, a first-offense drunk driver who blew a stop sign and seriously injured two people (including her passenger) was just sentenced to four years. Everyone in that case was in a motor vehicle.

Bet this guy doesn't get half that.

I think this guy is going to be hit relatively hard, actually. 5 counts of 2nd degree MURDER...not the more expected/typical negligent vehicular homicide charges. On top of that the 4 additional reckless driving counts.

I just hope this process moves along with more speed than the conviction of the guy who killed an ODRAM rider, last Aug. (hit and run with a super sleazy defense attorney). That has still not been resolved. And in that case I suspect the driver will be let off lightly, unfortunately. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it will be selecting a jury in this high profile case, though. I don't personally know anyone who would not be struck.

[zoom-zoom]

Bicycling (http://www.bicycling.com/culture/news/alleged-driver-in-kalamazoo-crash-to-face-murder-charges)'s report.

[emily_in_nc]

Bicycling (http://www.bicycling.com/culture/news/alleged-driver-in-kalamazoo-crash-to-face-murder-charges)'s report.

Thanks for sharing, zoom-zoom. So glad that this horrific tragedy is being taken as seriously as it should be.