COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA — Condolences are pouring in for a Council Bluffs family after two children were killed Saturday in a two-vehicle crash near Bennington, Nebraska. Caitlyn Colter, 25, of Blair, and her brother Cameron Colter, 20, of Council Bluffs, died at the scene, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The siblings were identified after the crash on the 2900 block of Bennington Road near 204th Street. Caitlyn had recently started working as a counselor for the Blair Community Schools, where she worked with students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Cameron had worked previously at a D’Amato’s Express convenience store in Council Bluffs, as did their mother, Robin Colter.
Sheriff’s investigators say a sedan crossed the median and hit a dump truck
Investigators determined Caitlyn was driving a 2010 Ford Edge east on Bennington Road around 1 a.m. when the vehicle went through a stop sign and into the path of a southbound dump truck hauling a trailer. The impact sent the Ford Edge into the southbound lane, where it was struck by the truck.
The sheriff’s office said Caitlyn was pronounced dead at the scene. Cameron died later at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The dump truck driver was not injured in the crash, and authorities have not said whether speed, impairment or other factors played a role.
Blair schools remember a counselor who quickly connected with students
Blair Community Schools said Caitlyn had only recently begun her work as a counselor, but she was already making a strong impression on students and staff. The district said she worked with children at Arbor Park Elementary and Ottoson Middle School and was known for building trust quickly.
Co-worker Tracey Howard said Caitlyn’s warmth stood out from the start. She described her as kind, pleasant and joyful to be around, and said she will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her. The district also said counseling support is available for students and employees as the community absorbs the loss.
Family, friends and classmates are finding ways to help the Colters
The Colter family is being supported by relatives, friends and others who knew Caitlyn and Cameron. Funeral arrangements are pending, and the family has not commented publicly as it grieves privately. The siblings are survived by their parents, Robin and Michael Colter, and a brother, Austin, all of Council Bluffs.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses. Donations can also be made at the D’Amato’s Express convenience store at 1000 N. 25th St. in Council Bluffs, where Robin Colter worked and Cameron previously worked. Those efforts have become a focal point for neighbors hoping to help with immediate costs.
A family vacation photo and recent memories now frame the loss
The Colters were remembered in part through a family vacation photo from late July in Destin, Florida, shared by relatives. The image captured Caitlyn and Cameron together before the crash, adding a more personal view of the siblings’ bond and the loss now facing their family.
People connected to the family said Caitlyn had recently started her counseling role and was already building meaningful relationships with students and staff. Cameron’s previous work in the convenience store and the family’s ties to Council Bluffs have also helped draw local attention and support.
The crash adds another painful moment for communities on both sides of the river
The deaths have resonated in both the Council Bluffs and Blair communities, where the siblings had school, work and family ties. Blair Community Schools said it is focused on supporting students and employees who are grieving the loss of a counselor they had just come to know.
At the same time, the sheriff’s office continues its investigation into the crash. What is already clear is that the collision took the lives of two young adults and left a family and two communities facing a sudden, difficult absence.
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