The Latest: Man in court in deaths of 5 Michigan bicyclists
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The Latest on charges in the deaths of five bicyclists near Kalamazoo, Michigan (all times local):
5:10 p.m.
A man charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of five bicyclists in southwestern Michigan has made his first court appearance.
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Charles Pickett Jr. heard the charges Friday via video from jail, three days after a group of bicyclists was mowed down by a pickup truck in Kalamazoo County's Cooper Township, 160 miles east of Chicago.
Judge Richard Santoni refused to set a bond, saying Pickett is a "danger to the community" and might flee.
Pickett will have a court-appointed attorney unless he decides to hire his own. He says he's unemployed and takes care of his father in the Battle Creek area.
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Besides the five deaths, four bicyclists were injured. One was in serious condition while the other three were fair or good Friday.
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12:25 p.m.
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Federal safety investigators are taking a rare look at a crash that killed five bicyclists in southwestern Michigan.
Eric Weiss, a spokesman at the National Transportation Safety Board, says investigators were at the scene Thursday. He says the NTSB's highway safety staff could make recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy.
Weiss said Friday that it's been decades since the agency has "looked at bicycles and cars and safety."
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Five bicyclists were killed and at least four were injured Tuesday when a pickup truck struck the group from behind on a two-lane road in Kalamazoo County's Cooper Township. The driver, Charles Pickett Jr., is charged with second-degree murder.
One of the injured was in serious condition Friday. The other three were fair or good.