Fort Collins is grieving the loss of Catherine “Cate” Withrow, a 53-year-old middle school teacher who was struck and killed Monday by a semi-truck tied to a city repaving project while she walked her bicycle across East Mulberry Street. Colleagues at Boltz Middle School and students are mourning the longtime educator and coach, as the collision reconstruction team continues to piece together what happened.
Withrow taught seventh-grade science, math, and health, and also coached cross country at Boltz Middle School, where she had returned to teach at her alma mater after a career in nursing. According to the staff directory at Boltz Middle School, she was deeply involved in both classroom life and athletics.
Police Say Crash Happened Inside Active Roadwork Zone
Fort Collins 9-1-1 started receiving calls about the collision at around 6:20 p.m. on Monday. Responding officers found a bicyclist who had been struck and was deceased at the scene. The tractor-trailer involved was working on the East Mulberry repaving project, and construction personnel were already on site when Withrow attempted to cross the street. Investigators have not yet determined who was at fault.
"This was a traumatic incident for not only those involved, but also those who witnessed the scene," Sergeant David Lindsay said, as reported by CBS Colorado. The Fort Collins Police Services CRASH team is leading the investigation.
Coroner Confirms Identity And Rules Death An Accident
The Larimer County coroner identified the victim as Catherine Lee Withrow. A forensic autopsy performed on Wednesday found multiple blunt-force injuries and listed the manner of death as "accident," according to the coroner's office. The formal notice is available through Larimer County.
Repaving Project Puts Spotlight On Traffic Safety
The city launched the East Mulberry repaving effort between South College Avenue and Riverside Drive on June 1, with lane shifts and closures announced in late May that warned drivers about changing traffic patterns. Typical work hours are listed as Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., although the city notes that crews may work outside those times and advises drivers to use alternate routes to steer clear of construction zones. Details about the project and its schedule are available through the City of Fort Collins project notice.
Family Planning Public Memorial
Withrow's family has scheduled a memorial service at the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State University campus on August 1 at 10:00 a.m., according to the obituary posted by the funeral home. The obituary also outlines ways to support a foundation created in Withrow's name instead of sending flowers, and the service listing is publicly available on the funeral home site.
Ghost Bike Marks Intersection As Community Grieves
Neighbors and members of the cycling community have placed flowers and a ghost bike near the intersection of Whedbee and East Mulberry. Image archives show a modest but growing memorial at the site, shared by local outlets, that has quickly become a focal point for collective grief. Photographs distributed by news photo services highlight how the crash has shaken both the school community and cyclists across Fort Collins.
Fort Collins Police Services is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about it to contact Officer Matt Brede at (970) 221-6842. The FCPS CRASH team is handling the active investigation and has said that no additional details will be released at this time. Roadwork in the area has resulted in temporary closures while investigators complete their review of the scene, according to city notices.
