Ludington man arraigned for Kalamazoo bicyclist’s death. 

Ludington man arraigned for Kalamazoo bicyclist’s death. 

KALAMAZOO — Joshua Christian Najacht, 22, of Ludington was arraigned Thursday, Nov. 16, for the death of a Kalamazoo Township bicyclist. Najacht appeared in Kalamazoo County’s Eighth District Court where he was charged with a misdemeanor of moving violation causing death in the Aug. 7 crash that killed Jeremy David Smith, 20. He faces up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $2,000.

According to the Portage Department of Public Safety, Smith was riding a bicycle north on Portage Road when he was struck by Najacht’s 2009 Chevrolet pickup truck. Witnesses and passing drivers stopped to render aid until firefighters arrived, but Smith died at the scene.

Najacht entered a not guilty plea through his attorney, Cody Crane, at the arraignment. He is due back in court Nov. 29 for a pre-trial conference.