Hammond man charged in cyclist’s Nov. 10 death

HAMMOND — Troopers arrested a 51-year-old Hammond man on negligent homicide and hit-and-run driving counts in connection with the death of a bicyclist earlier this month, State Police reported Friday.

Michael Murtagh, who surrendered to authorities Thursday, was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, according to a State Police news release.

Shortly before midnight Nov. 10, Bruce D. Burge, 58, of Hammond, was struck and fatally injured while riding a bicycle on La. 445, authorities said.

A break in the case came when an off-duty trooper spotted a vehicle that was believed to have hit Burge, troopers said. The State Police Crime Lab examined evidence from the incident as part of the investigation into Burge’s death.