Grand County highways claimed the life of yet another local resident last Friday evening. Kolby Wolf, 35, died of injuries sustained in a four-vehicle collision on Oct. 24.

The fatal accident occurred around 7:42 p.m. on Oct. 24 near mile post 215 of U.S. Highway 40 south of Granby. The circumstances of the initial incident began with a head-on collision that ultimately involved four vehicles. Three people were transported to hospitals with injuries. Wolf died as a result of the crash, State Patrol and the Grand County Coroner’s Office confirmed.

According to a Colorado State Patrol spokesperson, a driver of a Ford F-350 crossed from the westbound lane into the eastbound lane of the highway, colliding with a Kia and then striking a Ford F-150 truck head-on. Also during that collision, a Buick struck the F-150 from behind. Wolf, the driver of the F-150, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the F-350 was transported to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood with serious injuries. The driver and passenger of the Kia were uninjured, and the driver and passenger of the Buick were transported to Middle Park Health with minor injuries. 

Highway 40 was closed in both directions overnight as flight for life and EMS transported crash victims, and the scene was investigated. County Road 55 over Cottonwood Pass was used as an alternative route during that time. The highway opened again at 6:32 a.m. the next day, State Patrol said.

This tragic incident represents the 10th highway fatality in Grand County in 2024. Seven of the 10 were local residents.

The names, ages and residences of the deceased, dates of the accidents and hyperlinks to the initial reports are as follows: Richard Strobel, 71, of Littleton on March 2; Adala Sanders, 38 of Granby on May 18; Thomas Cosgrove, 62, of Boulder on July 5; Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34, Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30, Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12, Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5, Andres Cabral-Banuelos, 2, of Kremmling on Aug. 4; Danielle Cisneros, 27, of Arvada on Aug. 7 and Kolby Wolf, 35, of Fraser on Oct. 24.

Community invited to celebrate life of Kolby Wolf

The Wolf family invites the community to celebrate his life from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Schlessman Family Camper Hub at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby.

His wife, Amy Wolf, encourages attendees to come dressed in attire that best reminds them of Kolby, whether that be a ski suit, festival outfit or even a cowboy hat with a bolo tie — whatever feels right to remember him in.

“On Friday night we lost one of the brightest lights I’ve ever had the honor of knowing and loving,” Amy Wolf wrote in a statement to Sky-Hi News. “I lost a piece of myself, ripped right from my heart. Kolby was a bright light whose rays shone on everyone he met. If you ever had the pleasure of knowing him, you know that he was kind, selfless, and loved to see the people around him smile. He had a knack for making anyone he connected with feel like the most important person in the room. His radiance still glows in every facet of his life, even after his passing. The community won’t ever be the same without him in it.”

This story is from SkyHiNews.com.