The beloved assistant and humanitarian killed in the Silverado route accident, adding to a deadly model on Napa’s picturesque road

A beloved and humanitarian assistant died on Tuesday, when a work truck in Napa county hit Silverado Trail, the latest in a series of fatal accidents along the picturesque, but dangerous road.

The accident occurred just before lunch, south of Younsville Cross Road, while two cyclists rode south along the narrow, two lanes. A Ford F-350 truck, operated by the county, which traveled about 55 km / h, remained to the left to pass them. Just then, the main cyclist went to the left to avoid the debris and cut the mirror on the right side of the truck, said the spokesman of the California highway patrol, Marc Renspurger.

The driver pulled and called 911, while a passenger tried to help, Renspurger said. The paramedics arrived and pronounced it on the cyclist – who had a helmet – dead on the spot.

Subsequently, the authorities identified the cyclist like Cezar Falconitin, 47, from Vallejo, a long-term registered assistant and Tahitian dancers.

A service life, short cut

Falconitin was widely known for his compassion and sense of adventure. In December 2005, while working as an emergency medical assistant at Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo, he volunteered in Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. According to a 2006 Vallejo Times articleHe and a doctor have set up mobile medical sites in biloxi and gulfport, taking tetanus fires, treating influenza-like diseases and providing crucial drugs to disaster victims.

“He left a lot of people behind who are really hearts now,” said Destinee Foy, director of clients’ success at Pike Fitness in Vallejo, where he was a long -term member.

“We all process it right now,” she said. “He was a faithful person to everyone around him, he was very adventurous and lively and brought life to everyone he knew.

“I lost a good man that day.”

Investigators still bring together what has led to the accident. CHP officials said drugs and alcohol were not a factor.

A deadly road

Falconitin’s death marks another tragedy on Silverado Trail, a picturesque route, but more and more dangerous for cyclists.

In 2023, two Oregon cyclists were killed in the same way – hit by the unsecured timber load of a passing truck. The driver did not plead any competition for killing the vehicle and was sentenced earlier this month to almost a year in prison.

The day the day after the death of the couple in Oregon, Napa Valley’s transit authority has officially adopted a vision zero plana commitment to eliminate deaths in traffic at the county level.

According to the 2020 data from the California Traffic Safety Office, Napa County ranked 11th of the 58 comparable jurisdictions for bicycle collisions.

The Trail Silverado section between the 121 highway to Younsville Cross Road has the most collisions and the most severe accidents, based on the 2016 and 2018 data. The most deadly intersection was the place where Oregon cyclists were hit.

The Vision Zero plan identified that location – Silverado Trail and Oak Knoll Avenue – as a candidate for a roundabout to improve safety.

Silverado Trail was also the place of other serious accidents of recent months. In December a truck left the road next to Younsville Cross Road and hit a tree, killing a passenger. The driver was arrested under the suspicion of Dui, but no accusations were filed.

Weeks earlier, a The overturned septic truck South of Calistoga, hurting both occupants and shedding 30 gallons, closing the road for hours.

In June 2024, a driver in a Toyota Sienna, to the south, fought in the traffic that followed near Younsville Cross Road, colliding with a BMW. A passenger In BMW he was killedAnd the Toyota driver ran on the floor.

Despite the fact that it is a popular bicycle route, with a painted bicycle band, Silverado Trail remains one of the most dangerous roads of Napa County.

The writer of Edward Booth staff has contributed to the report.

You can reach your personnel writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On x (twitter) @madi.smals.