The victims include five people who were pronounced dead on the scene and four others that were transported to local hospitals.

KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Our community is dealing with tragedy once again after five people were killed in Kalamazoo County while out on a group bicycle ride.



We're breaking down what we know about the crash, the suspect and the victims Wednesday morning.

"Unfortunately we've seen just months ago a mass casualty incident and I'm at a loss," said Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting. "I have every confidence in Kalamazoo. I have every confidence in Kalamazoo County in support. I just wish we had an opportunity to get our feet under us again before we did it again."

Two tragedies have now struck Kalamazoo in just a matter of months.

Five bicyclists are dead, four others injured after being hit by a truck.

We have learned that one of the people killed was Debbie Bradley. She is a former nurse with Gull Lake Community Schools and lived in Gull Lake.

Suzanne Sippel is another victim who was killed in the crash. Bradley and Sippel were friends. She worked for W.K. Kellogg Biological station and is from Augusta.

Wednesday afternoon, Getting released the full list of the victims in the crash, those killed and those injured.

In addition to Bradley and Sippel, also killed were 42-year-old Melissa Fevig-Hughes, of Augusta; 73-year-old Tony Nelson, of Kalamazoo; and 74-year-old Larry Paulik, of Kalamazoo.

The four people injured in the crash are 47-year-old Paul Gobble, of Richland; 53-year-old Sheila Jeske, of Richland; 40-year-old Jennifer Johnson, of Kalamazoo; and 65-year-old Paul Runnels, of Richland.



Gobble, Jeske, and Runnels are currently listed in serious condition, while Johnson is listed in fair condition.

The Kellogg Biological Station has released this statement:

The entire KBS (Kellogg Biological Station) is devastated by the news that Suzanne Sippel was a victim of this horrific and tragic accident. She was valued and cherished member of the KBS community who impacted the lives of many of us in her role as a science data manager and enthusiastic support for bike riding and educational activities in the community. She will be sorely missed by all of us.

Getting says that it looks like they were all struck from behind by the vehicle.



We're learning new information about the driver responsible.

Multiple sources have told Newschannel 3 that the driver is 50-year-old Charles E. Pickett Jr., of Battle Creek. He is currently being held in the Kalamazoo County Jail, and his arraignment could be as soon as Thursday afternoon.

On North Westnedge near Markin Glen Park, where the crash happened, there isn't much activity, but we can tell you police are still there and have a staging area set-up Wednesday morning.



We're told a group of cyclists were on a group ride across Kalamazoo County around 6:00 Tuesday night when they were set to ride past the park on Westnedge.

Witnesses say the group was riding when a blue pick-up truck mowed several people down.

The victims include five people who were pronounced dead on the scene and four others that were transported to local hospitals.

Prosecutor Jeff Getting tells us the dispatch center did receive several calls about an erratic driver shortly before this crash happened.

"50-year-old male, resident of West Michigan. He is in custody and we'll be looking at as much information as we can develop over the next 36 hours in an effort to determine what charges are appropriate," said Getting.



"I seen a Dodge Ram fly past me coming past my house and I seen a blue truck spin around and land in someone's yard. It hurts me hearing about this stuff. I live right down the road and it hurts me. It's not good. I'm glad they got the guy. They caught him from running and I hope all the others ones live," said witness Markus Eberhard.



The driver was caught a few yards away from the scene of the crash.

Getting was asked if the driver was under the influence. He responded, "obviously people jump to that conclusion based on reports of erratic driving that came in. Obviously we want some explanation as to how this could happen. The crime lab will do an investigation to determine what if any substances he was under the influence of."

Four victims are in the hospital Wednesday morning after the deadly crash.

We know two of the survivors were taken to the emergency room at Borgess and were both evaluated by a trauma surgeon. Two others were taken to Bronson Hospital and are in serious condition Wednesday morning.



We talked to the emergency room doctor who was working on them. He tells us one of the cyclists was in critical condition. The other was stable, but in really rough shape.

"I was with the patient that was stable but very guarded we were able to stabilize him enough that we could actually send him safely to the ICU. The other patient is in critical condition still but will go to the ICU as well," said ER Doctor Justin Knight.

Multiple sources tell Newschannel 3 that a group of cyclists that calls themselves "The Chain Gang" is the group involved in Tuesday night's crash.

That group left at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday from the Kalamazoo County Health Services parking lot and the route would have taken them in the area of the crash.





According to AAA, each year approximately 2000 bicyclists are injured in crashes in Michigan.



Wednesday morning the Director of Road Safety for the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club, Pul Selden has this reaction:

"I know from working closely with area leadership that we are working to make our community even more bicycle friendly. This senseless tragedy -- in my memory, the worst of its kind in Kalamazoo County, and possibly in Michigan -- underscores that we can do much more. Motorists and bicyclists need to share the road safely throughout the year, but especially during peak bicycling season.

"The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club family was deeply saddened to learn that nine local bicyclists were hit and five killed by a suspected drunk driver Tuesday evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends impacted by this entirely preventable tragedy. In the next few days, as we learn more information we will make a more extensive statement." - Renee Mitchell, President- Kalamazoo Bicycle Club.

The Kalamazoo Strong organization now has a crisis fund set up for the victims of Tuesday night's crash and their families.

The organization was started following February's mass shooting spree.

Anyone wanting to help the nine victims and their families can click here: http://www.kalamazoostrongorganization.org/.





Area bicyclists are organizing a Ride of Silence Wednesday. It will start at 6:00 p.m. at Arcadia Brewing Company in Kalamazoo at 701 East Michigan Ave.

Even Lance Armstrong has sent his condolences over the tragedy on Instagram.

Many people have been using the #KalamazooStrong bike chain shaped heart on social media Wednesday.





We will continue to follow this story and bring you the latest on-air and online at wwmt.com.







