Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8:30 p.m. on June 7 to include additional information from the Grand County Coroner’s Office, Kremmling Police Department and KowTown Gravel.

A bicyclist competing in the KowTow Gravel bike race out of Kremmling was killed on Saturday, July 5 when he collided with a passenger truck on U.S. Highway 40.

The cyclist has been identified as Thomas Cosgrove, a 62-year-old man from Boulder, according to the Grand County Coroner’s Office.

The crash involving Cosgrove and the truck occurred at approximately noon near the town of Parshall, closing the highway for about one hour.

According to the coroner’s office, the driver of the passenger truck remained on the scene and continues to cooperate with investigators. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the collision.

Details of the crash

According to Colorado State Patrol, Cosgrove was traveling northbound on County Road 309 toward Highway 40. This road leads from the town of Parshall onto the highway, between milepost 196 and 197.

A Toyota Tundra pulling a trailer was traveling eastbound on Highway 40, approaching County Road 309.

“The bicycle disregarded a stop sign at the intersection and began turning left onto Highway 40 as the Tundra approached,” State Patrol stated. “The bicycle struck the rear passenger door of the Tundra.”

The cyclist was ejected during the crash, and pronounced dead on scene.

Kremmling Police Department patrol officer Doug Crocker told Sky-Hi News that he responded to the call shortly after it occurred. He helped to close down the highway near County Roads 33 and 9 before arriving on the scene.

“The bicycle was in multiple pieces,” he said. “At 65 mph with a 3,000-pound vehicle and a bicycle, it’s not a good outcome for the bicyclist … He came here psyched to ride and now he won’t come home.”

Crocker said there were multiple other racers who witnessed the accident that day.

“These cyclists are a tight knit group. It’s going to affect them all,” he said. ” … For the cyclists coming through seeing that, it had to be devastating … That driver is never going to recover from this, even if they weren’t at fault.”  

Bike race organizers offer counseling

“First and foremost, our deepest condolences are extended to the rider’s family, and the entire cycling community,” KowTown Gravel wrote on its Facebook page on July 6. “We recognize this incident has impacted multiple riders that witnessed the incident.”

The one-day bike race includes numerous courses on trails and gravel. At the time, Cosgrove was competing in the Bull Course of the gravel race, which traverses approximately 100 miles in the West Grand area.

The Bull Course is the most difficult, and includes a section that travels on Highway 40 for about 1 and 1/2 miles. This section stretches from Grand County Road 309 (which is part of Main Street in Parshall) to Corral Creek Cabin Road. Organizers placed signs on the highway outside of Parshall, informing motorists that there would be heavy bike traffic on July 5.

In a statement to Sky-Hi News, KowTown Gravel wrote that organizers are “deeply moved by the kindness, grace and care shown by so many.”

KowTown has counselors available for anyone who is needing additional support during this time.

“We stand with the rider’s family and the cycling community as they navigate this difficult loss,” the organization stated.

KowTown Gravel has extended its thanks to the agencies who responded to the scene, including State Patrol, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Kremmling Police Department, Grand County EMS, Hot Sulphur Springs/Parshall Fire Protection District, Grand County Coroner’s Office, and Grand County Search and Rescue.

KowTown Gravel stated that all these agencies stepped up immediately to assist, and that first responders “were critical in navigating the circumstances and helping support the ongoing logistics of the race.”

Support resources are available for anyone impacted by this event. Those in need can reach out through email to kowtowngravel@yahoo.com.