YOUR AD HERE »

Grand County mourns 10th highway fatality of year

Kolby Wolf, 35, of Fraser died in Oct. 24 collision on U.S. Highway 40

Share this story
Kolby Wolf is pictured is Rocky Mountain National Park in 2020.
Amy Wolf/Courtesy photo

Editor’s note: This article and its headline were updated to include a fatal accident that occurred near Winter Park Resort on March 2.

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 2025. 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.

Kolby Wolf visited Norway in 2022.
Amy Wolf/Courtesy photo

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.”

Kolby and Amy Wolf are pictured in Alaska in 2023.
Amy Wolf/Courtesy photo
Kolby and Amy Wolf with their dogs Yogi, Ari and Kaiya walked through snow in Grand Lake in 2019.
Ryse Photo/Courtesy photo
Share this story

Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live.

Over the past year, contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting, including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire.

If you value local journalism, consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do.