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
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    11
    ·
    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
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      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
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          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?