Charles Pickett Jr. Charged With 5 Counts of Murder for Deaths of Bicyclists in Kalamazoo

Hundreds bikers stand before a silent bike ride in Kalamazoo, Mich., Wednesday, June 8, 2016, to supporting the cyclists who were killed and injured in a crash the day before. (Chelsea Purgahn/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP)

A 50-year-old Battle Creek man that struck a group of cyclists, killing five, in Michigan was charged on June 9 with five counts of second degree murder.

Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting also charged the driver, Charles Pickett Jr., with four counts of reckless driving, according to court documents.

The incident happened on June 7 in the Cooper Township, north of Kalamazoo, where Pickett Jr. drove his pick-up truck into the cyclists, killing five and injuring four more.

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The bicyclists were part of a leisure group called “The Chain Gang,” ranging from ages 40 to 74. They were five miles into their weekly 30-mile ride when they were struck from behind on a two-lane road.  

Felony complaint against Charles Pickett Jr. by Kyle Sparks

Authorities say they had received calls about a driver in a pickup truck that was driving erratically. Police were looking for the vehicle minutes before the incident, at around 6:30 p.m.

Pickett Jr. ran from the scene, but was apprehended shortly after.

Police investigate the scene after multiple bicyclists were struck in a deadly crash Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Cooper Township, Mich. (Bryan Bennett/Kalamazoo Gazette-MLive Media Group via AP)