KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Battle Creek man charged with causing the deaths of five cyclists in Cooper Township this summer is due in court Monday.
Barring any last minute motions or delays, 50-year-old Charles Pickett Jr. is scheduled for a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to bind him over for trial.
Pickett is charged with five counts of second degree murder and four counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment, for the five cyclists who were killed and the four others who were seriously injured.
Police investigation files opened under the Freedom of Information Act claim that Pickett had taken a number of muscle relaxers and pain pills prior to getting behind the wheel of his truck that day.
They also allege that he had been driving erratically for some time prior to striking the nine members of the Chain Gang bicycle club.
It’s already been determined that Pickett is mentally competent to aid in his own defense.
Pickett has the option today to waive the hearing and have the case bound over to circuit court, which can happen in high-profile cases where finding an impartial jury may be an issue at trial.
He is specifically charged with causing the deaths of three women from Augusta: Debra Bradley, Melissa Fevig-Hughes and Suzanne Sippel. He is also charged with the deaths of Larry Paulik and Tony Nelson of Kalamazoo.
The death toll from the incident created a wave of sympathy for cyclists and changes in local ordinances.
The Michigan Senate has passed legislation requiring five feet of leeway between cars and bikes and more training in driver’s education courses on bike and pedestrian safety. The House will have to vote on the legislation during the lame duck session or it will die when this session of the legislature ends on Dec. 31.
