Tourist critically hurt in St. Helena bike crash

A 70-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries when she fell from her bicycle in St. Helena Monday morning, a California Highway Patrol officer said.

The victim, a resident of Glen Ellen, Virginia, was riding a 2016 Trek XM700 road bike on the shoulder of southbound Silverado Trail south of Pope street around 10:35 a.m. when her right handlebar struck a blue recycling container in the shoulder of the road, CHP Officer Anna Paulson said.

Witnesses said she then went up and over the handlebars and fell face down on the road, Paulson said.

The victim, who was riding with her husband and other cyclists, was wearing a helmet. She was taken by ambulance to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa where her condition is very critical, Paulson said:

“This is heart wrenching. … They came here from Virginia and Napa Valley was their highlight. They were staying Up-Valley and now she is fighting for her life.”