A Portland couple were hit and killed Tuesday while biking on a rural road in Napa, California.
52-year-old Christian Deaton and 48-year-old Michelle Deaton were avid bike riders and travelers. They were visiting Napa County’s wine country and were riding on Silverado Trail when a truck driver attempted to pass them. Law enforcement officials say the driver’s load of lumber shifted just as he passed the Deatons and a piece of wood hit both of them. Christian died at the scene and Michelle died shortly after at the hospital.
Silverado Trail has two general purpose lanes and is striped with unprotected bike lanes. The speed limit near the location of the collision is 55 mph. It’s considered a safer, less-trafficked alternative to nearby Highway 29.
It’s unclear whether police will hold the driver accountable for breaking any traffic laws. In California, all vehicle operators must secure their loads. Failure to do so can result in a citation. And the state’s safe passing law requires motor vehicle operators to give bicycle riders at least three feet when they pass.
“According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, at 55 miles per hour, an object weighing just 20 pounds that falls from a vehicle strikes with an impact of half a ton,” states a press release from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Both victims were employees of Nike. Christian raced several times at Oregon Bicycle Racing Association events, including the Monday night series at Portland International Raceway. A source who knew Christian said he rode with him on Nike’s ‘Windjammers’ cycling club.
“This enormous, preventable loss is sitting heavy in our hearts and minds, as we know it is for those who ride locally and work toward safer streets,” reads a statement from the Napa County Bicycle County Bicycle Coalition. “Living here, riding here, and visiting here should be safe for all road users, and we are incredibly saddened that the Deatons were not kept safe.”
If anyone knew the Deatons and wants to share more about them, feel free to do so in the comments below or get in touch and I will add your remembrance to the story.
***Update October 20, 2023: This morning, BikePortland spoke with a witness to the crash who has posted several comments under this article. Laura Ray told BikePortland that she was traveling south on Silverado Trail and that the crash occurred in the northbound lane. Laura wasn’t able to directly see the impact, but she pulled over and rushed to the aid of the Deatons. Three or four other people also stopped, and a couple of men in two trucks directed traffic and used their vehicles to protect the site. Laura took a number of photos of the site.
She said that a witness was driving northbound, in back of the crash, and that he was the first to call 911. He was freaked out, as was everybody, and he spent most of the time on the phone. She thought she heard him say that there was wood hanging off the back of the truck.
Laura was distressed that it took so long for the emergency response to arrive–15 minutes, she thought–which didn’t make sense to her because there is a hospital nearby. When the police arrived she was surprised that they did not collect information from the witnesses, and that they seemed more concerned with clearing everyone away. (An investigator contacted BikePortland early yesterday evening.)
The driver of the truck which allegedly struck the Deatons stopped, but very far from the location of the crash, Laura thought about a quarter mile past the crash. He did not approach the crash location.
Laura said that Silverado Trail is a dangerous road, particularly this time of year, during harvest season, and also with wine-lovers visiting the area’s vineyards. She mentioned that the area was building a protected path, with no cars allowed, which would run to Calistoga.
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