MANHATTAN -A Kansas man made his first court appearance on Wednesday in connection with a fatal bicycle accident in June.

Derik Kesler, 32, Rossville, is charged with vehicular homicide.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Dodge pickup driven by Kesler was southbound on Kansas 177 just after 7 p.m. on June 26, and struck bicyclist Mark M. Jilka, 49, Manhattan from behind.
Jilka was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kesler was represented by Attorney Tom Lemon of Topeka. He waved the judge’s formal reading of the charges.

Lemon expressed his desire to withhold from giving a plea to the charge, in order to assure Kessler’s application to a diversion. Judge Bosch entered a plea of not guilty for Kesler, which is typical when applying for a diversion.

Kessler’s next appearance will be on March 2.