A 21-year-old man will stand trial for the hit-and-run death of a 29-year-old bicyclist, a judge ruled yesterday.

Greg Wisneski, of Indiana County, is charged with accidents involving death and personal injury, failure to report the accident to police and failing to stop and render assistance. He is charged in the death of Sean Pearce, who was hit while riding a bicycle on Route 119 in July 2005.

At a preliminary hearing, a friend of Wisneski testified that his friend carried a newspaper clipping about Sean Pearce's hit-and-run death around with him. Christopher Peterman said that a tearful Mr. Wisneski eventually told him that he thought he was the one that hit Mr. Pearce.

Police have determined that Mr. Pearce was hit more than once, but they don't know if Mr. Wisneski's Nissan was the first car to hit Mr. Pearce. The bicyclist was riding along a highway when he was hit.

Mr. Pearce's family, including his mother and sister, sat in the courtroom, holding a picture of Mr. Pearce.

Mr. Wisneski has pleaded not guilty.