Posted on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:10 p.m.
Man ordered to stand trial in collision that killed bicyclist in Pittsfield Township
By Lee Higgins
Full story: Driver in fatal bicycle crash in Pittsfield Township was changing the radio, attorney says
A driver who authorities say struck and killed a bicyclist with his van in Pittsfield Township in July has been ordered to stand trial.
Nicholas Wahl, 20, of Clinton, is charged with negligent homicide in the death of 45-year-old Tim Pincikowski of Saline.
Authorities say Wahl was traveling north on Maple Road on July 28 at about 5 p.m. when his van struck Pincikowski's bicycle.
A preliminary hearing for Wahl ended minutes ago when a judge found there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial. The preliminary hearing started last week.
Pincikowski's family was in the courtroom, and Wahl had a group of supporters there.
Comments
Basic Bob
Sat, Oct 24, 2009 : 1:57 p.m.
Regardless of what you have been told, bicycles belong on the RIGHT SIDE of the road, with the flow of traffic!!! From the Michigan Vehicle Code, section 257.660a: A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as follows: (a) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction. (b) When preparing to turn left. (c) When conditions make the right-hand edge of the roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings, debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle. (d) When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through the intersection. (e) When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.
No9NASCAR
Sat, Oct 24, 2009 : 2:59 a.m.
Automobiles and bicycles don't mix! Make Bike-Only paths. If you drive around A2 regularly, you know that bikers drift across those "fog lines" all the time. They're much more likely to be "at fault" than the motorist. A2 local government caused this accident.... imprison those geniuses. My deepest syphathy to to families on both parts!
BillMK
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 10:26 p.m.
Maybe he'll get a three-year paid vacation...
ownrdgd
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 4:16 p.m.
Maybe he'll get lucky and get melinda morris for the judge.She lets most law breakers off with probation
SMAIVE
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:59 p.m.
Do you seriously want to waste tax dollars to destroy this kid by putting him in jail? Punish him yes, but lets not make him a burdon on society. Who is the state legislator looking for a feather in his or her cap? This whole issue is a hot topic in Lansing. Coincidence? I drive Maple every day, I wish it was only the 'fog' line half the drivers cross.
Sparky79
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:49 p.m.
@ownrdgd - 99% of motorists also fail to stop at stop signs. You know, that white (or invisible white) line before the stop sign you're suppose to stop at, then slowly move forward to get a better look? The white line that 99% of motors zip right through before stopping when they're halfway around the corner? Yeah, you're probably guilty of it, too. I've ridden my bike down Stadium Blvd. many times using the sidewalk. I can't count the number of times cars from side streets zip up to the corner like that just as I'm about to bike across the road (and in this case I have right of way). If I don't slam my brakes, I'm getting t-boned and seriously injured. That is the biggest reason why I do not use the sidewalk if a bike lane is present. Bicyclists and pedestrians have every right to utilize the road. If a motorist is that unconfident in their driving ability or too distracted from texting someone to safely go around them, perhaps they don't belong behind the wheel (especially the latter!). It's funny to hear some motorists complain that bicyclists think they own the road. Meanwhile, the motorists think the bikers have no business on the road and they should be for cars only. Uh... pot, kettle, black. Roads are for everyone. I'm a driver. I have no problems sharing the road. If it angers you that much, you need help. Bikers need to stay on the side (big pet peeve is when I encounter a biker biking against traffic...ugh!). Motorists need to learn to, you know, pay attention to DRIVING, not talk on their cell phone, text message, or whatever other distraction while driving. The laws aren't going to change to ban pedestrians and bicyclists from the road. Deal with it.
treetowncartel
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:43 p.m.
I think we should allow ATVs and Snowmobiles to use the roads down here too. There should also be a bike lane on the highways so we don't have to go through the city and stop at all those lights and stop signs.
ownrdgd
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:36 p.m.
Its also clear that bikes are supposed to obey ALL traffic laws the same ones that apply to cars,but sadly 99% of them fail to stop at stop signs/lights.
ownrdgd
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 3:22 p.m.
You have got to have rocks in your head to ride a bike anywhere but on the sidewalk.Untill drivers stop talking on cell phones and women stop putting on make-up and everyone stops eating and drinking while driving,Which all of the above will never happen.Then you are sadly going to have people riding bikes being run over by vehicles.You can say what you want about who is to blame but the facts remain that cars and trucks and bikes on the same road way do not mix.Never have,never will
Hactin
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:52 p.m.
Jail.
AAJoker
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:42 p.m.
It is not the cyclists fault to make up for bad driving, the laws are clear.
Cable Chef
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 2:39 p.m.
Bicyclists have no place on the road. This could have been prevented had the cyclist used common sense and stayed on the sidewalk. When I was a kid we were taught to NOT ride our bikes in the street yet somehow people have deemed it acceptable to ride in places where 1-2 ton vehicles travel. Tragic? Yes, definitely. But this is a matter where the cyclist is at fault for not using a safer route. It should be against the law for a non-motor vehicle to be on the road, bike lane or not.
snapshot
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 1:43 p.m.
This appears to be a tragedy that could have been prevented on so many levels. Obviously more attention to driving, outlawing cell phone use while driving, better bike lanes, more public awareness for other driving distractions like radios, makeup, reading, eating, and lack of common courtesy behind the wheel, all of which probably cause more accidents than drinking and driving.
beulahmi
Fri, Oct 23, 2009 : 1:39 p.m.
Nick-Let me be the first-I light a candle for you every Sunday...