Two cyclists died near Napa, California, Tuesday by a lumber truck when its load suddenly shifted of the picturesque roadway.

Authorities say the victims, identified as Christian and Michelle Deaton, were legally riding north on the valley’s winding, two-lane Silverado Trail when they encountered a flatbed truck headed in the opposite direction. Somehow, the lumber it was carrying shifted and fell, hitting the cyclists, Fox 8 reports.

Exactly what caused the load to hit the Deatons when it did is still being investigated, but Christian was declared dead at the scene. Michelle, meanwhile, was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died from her injuries. According to the sheriff’s office, they were visiting the Napa Valley from Portland, Oregon. And to his credit, the truck driver stayed at the scene and reportedly cooperated with authorities who are still investigating what caused the load to shift and hit the cyclists.

read more: https://jalopnik.com/two-cyclists-killed-by-trucks-lumber-load-in-california-1850954500

archive link: https://archive.ph/ZJb0f

  • mondoman712@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Large trucks like this shouldn’t be in cities unless they’re the only thing that can solve the problem. More freight rail and bikes or smaller vans for last mile are much better.

    • Treczoks@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      So you want that convenient supermarket around the corner getting their delivieries by bike and small vans? Good luck with that.

      • mondoman712@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        My local supermarket already doesn’t use full size trucks, and many of the larger ones in my city are adjacent to tram tracks which I think could be used for deliveries. But if the supermarket has to spend a bit more to make my city’s streets safer then yes using smaller vans is good.

        • Treczoks@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Oh yes, this will make the tram users happy if they have to wait for half an hour behind a delivery tram that is unloading wares for the supermarket.

            • Treczoks@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              The first will make all bikers really happy. I’ve had the “pleasure” to ride my bike in a road with way to many tram rails on my way, and had to turn left at one point. That is definitely not fun.

              And delivering outside busy hors means both the driver and the people in the shop have to work at insane hours. Will they be properly compensated for it?

      • prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Or freight rail systems could tie into municipal rail systems and we just keep an open mind and stop finding reasons to not do things better

        • Treczoks@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          I do have an open mind, but that also means to be able to find the flaws in plans. And your idea has so many holes, it is practically a net.

          You don’t need to believe me, just start to actually think it through.