Ohio man pleads not guilty in charity-ride death

LOGAN, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio motorist has pleaded not guilty in a crash that killed a woman as she was bicycling for charity.

Ervin Blackston was arraigned today in southern Ohio’s Hocking County, where he’s charged with misdemeanor counts including vehicular homicide.

Authorities say Blackston hit 57-year-old Michelle Kazlausky of suburban Columbus on Aug. 21 as she rode to Athens, in southeast Ohio, as part of a bicycling event to raise money for cancer research. Kazlausky was taken to a hospital, where she died.

WBNS-TV in Columbus reports Blackston did not speak in court. His lawyer pleaded on behalf of his client and said Blackston was devastated over the woman’s death.

Police said Blackston, of Rockbridge, struck Kazlausky after failing to stop on a trooper’s signal.