Man Chasing Ex-Girlfriend Charged in Bike Fatality in Springfield

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged the man with second-degree murder, even though it was the ex-girlfriend who hit the cyclist in November near Missouri State University.

Prosecutors charged 24-year-old Blake Basten under a statute that says someone can be charged with murder if he or she is committing a felony that leads to a death.

The Springfield News-Leader reports court documents say 31-year-old Shannon Smith was speeding through Springfield to get away from Basten when she hit 23-year-old bicyclist Zachary Gibson.

Smith has been charged with leaving the scene of the crash.

Basten's public defender, James Hayes, on Wednesday declined to comment.