By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter
Craig Elstins, the 51-year-old Benicia bicyclist who was critically hurt while riding with friends in Martinez Oct. 20, has died in Walnut Creek from his injuries, a family friend said Monday.
Elstins, who was thrown from his Venge bicycle when he encountered a group of turkeys while riding west on Alhambra Valley Road, died about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
He and about a half-dozen friends often met up for extended Saturday morning rides in the Bay Area.
That morning, they had crossed the Benicia-Martinez Bridge and were traveling along the popularly called “Pig Farm” route, named for the site of a former hog farm that cyclists pass along the way.
As they traveled single file along a steep decline, one cyclist passed the flock, or rafter, of turkeys without incident.
Elstins was following the preceding rider, but just as he was about to pass them the turkeys ran in front of his bicycle, and Elstins fell. Witnesses said the turkeys appeared to escape unhurt.
But Elstins suffered head trauma, broken ribs and a broken jaw. He was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek.
Elstins was wearing a helmet. He was such an experienced rider that his fellow cyclists said they often sought information from him.
He was a member of the Benicia Bicycle Club and participated in its time trials, and had been a competitor in both bicycle and motorcycle racing events.
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That is so awful. My condolences to Craig’s family and friends.
One has to wonder how fast they were going. My guess is TOO FAST. They need to slow down.
Are you talking about? The Turkey’s slowing down?? ,they are dumb and just stand there.It does not matter if you are going 20 or 40 mph on abike with 3/4 inch tire,when you hit a 20 pound rock,you will go down.TRY IT SOMETIME.Maybe you wil understand
I completely agree. We have no idea of how fast he was going, at least based on info in the article. Yes, it is more dangerous to descend at 50 than 40 than 30 than 20 than 10, but it is even safer to stand on a sidewalk in the suburbs and walk your bike. We can’t be blaming the cyclist. Turkeys are very stupid and act erratically (as do deer or bulls). They are overrunning this area. I have been cycling Pig Farm since about 1998 and didn’t see the turkeys until about 2003, and there are more and more of them. They are in the Berkeley and Oakland hills these days, Orinda, Lafayette, etc. Perhaps they should be hunted, though hunting in this area might be dangerous for hikers and other users of our recreational lands.
What an insensitive post D. DeMars. Please show respect for the loss of a bright life as well as for Craig’s grieving family & friends.
If Danny knew anything about cycling he would not make a statement that was a “guess”. These turkeys are a real hazard to cyclists (and motorists) and have invaded this area. On this route it is surprising that this was the first fatality due to the turkeys.
That’s pretty funny coming from a guy who got killed fighting like a jackass in 1991. I was there.
Definitely time for open season on these (imported) turkeys!
These birds which are taking over the state, displacing other birds, making one hell of a mess of peoples gardens and decks, etc. were imported from Mexico because they were deemed insignificantly different, if at all different from our decimated native wild turkeys (not to be confused with those we elect to State offices), and it was thought that we needed these game birds to be re-established.
Well, it appears that they have been very successfully reestablished, and I think that it’s more than time for at least a very long archery season on these blasted birds (They could be blasted if a shotgun season were opened on them.).
I frequently see them on the road. No, I don’t use this as an opportunity to leave pizzas for the magpies and buzzards, but would not lament such actions by others.
Why has DFG not balanced their numbers by introducing local hunting of these pests?
Paul
A man died. Prayers to his family!
Craig R.I.P. my friend, well see you on the other side some day. Lots of love and Hugs to the Family.
my sincerest condolences to the Elstins family and friends. peace.
My heart felt condolences to Craig’s family & friends. Craig, may you rest in peace.
I met Craig on Sunday, August 5th, while I was resting on the bench atop Mt. Diablo near the water fountain. He and another fit cyclist had just climbed from Athenian School at the bottom of Southgate in 56 minutes, they told me. That’s how fit they were at age 51; they looked much younger. It was the sort of morning that was cold, windy, and foggy at the bottom of the mountain, but clear, warm, sunny, and tranquil once you cycled above the Junction half-way up.
Craig’s accident affected me personally because it was the kind of thing a careful cyclist can’t prepare for. He was riding with a group he knew, was familiar with the terrain and its challenges, and was physically fit. Medical help arrived soon, I’m told, yet he never woke up in the hospital in the week he was there.
It was the unexpected that could happen to any of us who love cycling.
My condolences to Craig’s family and friends.
The Pig Farm descent going west is well known to local cyclists, and i would guess most would agree that, for two reasons, it is difficult – tho not impossible – to descend it slowly: (1) It is not a long stretch but it is initially very steep, and even freewheeling will take you to 40 mph very quickly. (2) The climb up from the other side is arduous and culminates in a sharp right turn before the descent; the temptation to take it at speed is almost irresistible. My own son fell on this same stretch years ago and was lucky to escape with no more than serious road rash and a healthy fear of fast descending which it took him a long time to master. Oddly, I have never encountered turkeys there, but forewarned is forearmed.