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Update: Two Elderly Women Injured in Upvalley Car-Bike Crash

Update: One of the women suffered very serious injuries and the other suffered moderate injuries when they were hit by a car while riding bikes, CHP Sgt. Greg Xepoleas said. The bicyclists are believed to be from Sonoma. Bay City News Service.

Two elderly women were injured Monday afternoon when they were struck by a gold-color Pontiac on state Highway 29 in Napa County north of Saint Helena, a California Highway Patrol sergeant said.

One of the women suffered very serious injuries and the other suffered moderate injuries, Sgt. Greg Xepoleas said. Both were taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa.

Two other women who were riding in the group did not suffer physical injuries but were traumatized by the incident and taken to a hospital, Xepoleas said.

The bicycle riders and the Pontiac were traveling south on the highway just north of Saint Helena when the Pontiac veered or drifted to the right and struck the women around 12:40 p.m. near Ehlers Lane, Xepoleas said.

It's believed all four women are from the city of Sonoma, Cal Fire Division Chief David Shew said. One of the injured women is 67 and the other is 72, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The driver was the only occupant of the car, Shew said. There is a shoulder on Highway 29 near Ehlers Lane, but some areas of the road there do not have a wide shoulder, Shew said.

Highway 29 was shut down and traffic was diverted to the Silverado Trail, Shew said.

By Bay City News Service.

For more on this story, please see 

  • Two Bicyclists Hurt in Collision with Car in Napa County

In August, a St. Helena man lost his life in a collision with a car while cycling:

  • Victim Identified after Fatal Bike-Car Collision Upvalley
  • CHP: Cyclist Had Right of Way in Fatal Upvalley Crash
  • Crash Victim's Memorial Fund to Benefit Napa Valley Vine Trail

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Larry Cereghino October 9, 2012 at 03:29 pm
Ok ---Lets talk about this,,Im sorry to see the ladies get hit bye a car.,...hope they are ok...but lets be real here....taking a bike on highway 29 or even on the trail is not safe,
But as I drive around town..the bike rental company's..need to heed to visitors that ride around,go thru lights,and go up Big ranch road where thier is not ever room for a car and a bike...i have seen them on salvador,,,,and joggers..their no room... I ride my bike around the neighbor-hoods to get some exercise...but never never on 29 --the trail..... Just too dangerous folks..... thats all I have............... safe riding in napa valley
John Capone October 9, 2012 at 03:36 pm
To say that riding on 29 or the trail is not safe is one thing. But we shouldn't leave it at that. These are the main thoroughfares through the Valley. Do we want to be a place where cyclists are completely left out of the transportation infrastructure?
Tony October 9, 2012 at 04:00 pm
The issue here is to determine why the motorist "veered or drifted" and why the cyclist were not seen. Four cyclist together make a very big visual target, which should be seen from a safe distance to allow a driver to hold a car in the lane of traffic. I am a motorist and a cyclist, and I can tell you that there was a time when I witnessed a car "veer or drift" I would say, he or she must be drunk. Now I say he or she must be on the phone or texting, and I'm usually right. Along with a blood alchohol test we should be checking phone records.
Tom Davidson October 9, 2012 at 04:08 pm
There is plenty of room for bikes.
There isn't enough room for drivers who don't KNOW that there is plenty of room. And we seem to have an epidemic of cars swerving onto shoulders lately, We are paying thousands of dollars extra for cars with all the best safety technology in cars that even claim they are for "Ultimate Drivers", and yet the cars are flying off the road more than Model 'T's do. There is plenty of room for bicyclists and competent drivers. WHat we need to find out is WHY are these cars (that the government is requiring thousands of dollars of safety technology to be installen in/on) seem to be MORE DIFFICULT to keep on the roads. So what we REALLY need to talk about is why can't drivers can't even drive safely enough to stay on the road. You don't need to text your friends to figure that out, I don't imagine. It's like walking into a building where someone is blindly firing bullets in all directions and saying that the problem is that there's not enough room in the building.
Ron October 9, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Let's face it, riding a bike, walking, or jogging on narrow roads a few feet away from cars going 50+ can be dangerous. It doesn't matter how many laws we pass, or how much we blame drivers. Just a moments inattention on anyone's part and the least protected party is going to get the worst of it.
Aprille October 9, 2012 at 06:37 pm
Such a sad accident and I feel sad for everyone involved. Drivers need to keep their eyes on the road and riding a bicycle on highways is not safe. Let's get a safe bike trail finished. We don't need to outlaw riding on roads we need to promote smarter choices.

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