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Sharing the Road: Complete Series

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 begins for man accused of driving into and killing five cyclists outside Kalamazoo

Michigan Public | By Doug Tribou,

Bryce Huffman

Published April 26, 2018 at 10:25 AM EDT

cyclists on road — The trial began yesterday for the man accused of crashing into and killing five cyclists and injuring four others.

In June 2016, a group of cyclists known as the Chain Gang headed out for a ride in Kalamazoo County. About 20 minutes later in Cooper Township, a pickup truck plowed into the group, killing five of the riders.

Yesterday, the criminal trial for the driver of that truck, Charles Pickett, Jr. began.

Michigan Radio’s Bryce Huffman is covering the trial. He spoke with Morning Edition host Doug Tribou.

Sheila Jeske was one of four riders who were seriously hurt in the crash. In an interview with Michigan Radio last year she described her injuries.

“Both hips were dislocated, broken. Both ankles broken, bad compound [fracture] on the left. My knee – everyone has ACL injuries – I had ACL, PCL, lateral, collateral, posterior lateral, so everything in my knee creamed. Collapsed lung. Broken ribs. Staples in my head. Sutures in my other knee. Broken teeth.”

Click hereto explore a Michigan Radio series on the state of bicycling.