Killed, 4 Injured When Truck Hits Bicyclists In Michigan; Suspect Arrested

Authorities say a vehicle slammed into a group of at least eight bicyclists in west MI, leaving an unknown number of people dead and others injured. The accident happened on Tuesday just north of Kalamazoo, Michigan, in Kalamazoo County.

Police said the pickup driver, a 50-year-old west MI resident, was in custody and a decision on possible charges probably would come Thursday. All were adults, who apparently were riding together northbound on North Westnedge Avenue when they were struck from behind.

“I’m at a loss to describe the impact to the community from these incidents”, Getting said. She was a member of St. Anne’s Parish in Gull Lake.

Strader said he learned of the tragedy from the TV news Tuesday night. They frequently helped people who had money troubles; Nelson assisted them in filling out tax returns. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Suzanne during this very hard time and our focus is on providing caring support to them”. He said deputies recently had been watching the area and writing tickets.

The couple had planned to take a sabbatical next year in OR, where their son will attend college, Gross said, adding, “I can not express how much she will be missed”.

“Ride on, friends, on the roads of heaven”, one mourner wrote on a card left behind. He said the driver wouldn’t be identified until then; the Kalamazoo County Jail said it couldn’t discuss any inmates in its custody.

Some cycling advocates said they hoped the tragedy would inspire motorists to be more tolerant.

Coffman said he sees that group, usually 15-20 cyclists, pass his house about two to three times per week, and they often wave when he’s outside.

Wednesday, MSU released a statement on Sippel’s death. In February, an Uber driver was charged with shooting six people, and endangering others at random, as he drove around picking up passengers. His attorney told a judge Monday that Dalton is expected to plead insanity in his defense.

Snyder said in a statement Wednesday that his “thoughts and prayers are with the people of Kalamazoo and particularly the cyclists and their families”.