Driver of flatbed lumber truck sentenced to 1 year in death of cyclists

(KRON) — The driver of a flatbed lumber truck was sentenced to a year in jail for his role in the 2023 death of two Oregon cyclists along the Silverado Trail in Napa County. Porfirio Sanchez failed to properly secure the lumber load he was hauling on the morning of Oct. 17, 2023, according to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office.

This caused a large piece of lumber to swing out perpendicular to the truck and strike Christian Deaton, 52, and Michelle Deaton, 48. The Oregon couple were riding their bicycles alongside the Silverado Trail at the time.

Both lost their lives in the collision.

Sanchez, according to the DA, signed a plea agreement on Nov. 14, 2024, in which he pled no contest to two counts of vehicular manslaughter. According to the plea agreement, he agreed to serve up to four years in state prison.

However, after hearing testimony from Christian Deaton’s brother, who requested leniency for Sanchez, the judge sentenced him to 364 days in jail. The judge went on to stay 180 of those days upon the completion of 180 hours of community service related to bike safety.

Sanchez will also receive two years of formal probation.

“It seems that everyone in this case, generally, is requesting justice and mercy,” said Judge Scott Young during Friday’s sentencing. “The Court is moved by the amount of grace in this courtroom by all the families.”

“This case boils down to two happy, healthy lives that were cut short due to the negligence of the defendant,” said Napa County Deputy District Attorney Shashawnya Worley. “Their deaths have had a profound impact on their family and friends. There’s nothing I can say or do today that can bring back their loved ones, but I hope that this sentence can bring them closure.”

​(KRON) — The driver of a flatbed lumber truck was sentenced to a year in jail for his role in the 2023 death of two Oregon cyclists along the Silverado Trail in Napa County. Porfirio Sanchez failed to properly secure the lumber load he was hauling on the morning of Oct. 17, 2023, according to […]