A pickup truck driver reversed into another vehicle, accelerated onto a crowded sidewalk, and killed one person during a popular Colorado bicycle festival Saturday.
The crash unfolded at 11:45 a.m. In Old Town Fort Collins, where the annual Tour de Fat parade had drawn heavy crowds to the area, according to Fort Collins Police Services. Six people, including the driver of the Chevrolet pickup, were hospitalized with injuries of varying severity. One victim, who has not been publicly identified, was later pronounced dead.
Police emphasized that pedestrians do not appear to have been deliberately targeted. The truck reversed from a parking spot on Mountain Avenue, struck another vehicle, then lurched forward onto the sidewalk where it struck multiple people before slamming into a tree and stopping.
The timing and location meant numerous bystanders and patrol officers were already in the vicinity because of the festival. Authorities sealed the crash site for roughly six hours while investigators processed the scene and the FCPS Collision Reconstruction and Scene Handling Team began examining what led to the collision, including whether driver impairment played a role.
Jeff Swoboda, the Fort Collins police chief, addressed the incident in a press release issued Saturday.
“This was a tragic day for many in our community,” he said.
Swoboda continued by acknowledging the broader toll. “We recognize the impact that this incident will have on those involved, the witnesses, and the responders,” he said, adding that “victim advocates are supporting those involved in what happened today.”
The chief also praised the reaction of emergency personnel and civilians alike. “I’m appreciative of the quick response of our officers, the assistance of our emergency partners, and the community members who helped during this incident,” he said.
The Tour de Fat festival, which draws substantial annual crowds to Fort Collins, was underway less than a mile from where the truck came to rest against the tree. The parade and associated events have long been a fixture in the northern Colorado city.
Conditions of the five surviving victims and the driver were not immediately released by authorities. The investigation remains active as police work to determine the full sequence of events that sent the pickup careening through one of the busiest pedestrian zones in the city on a festival morning.