Accident victim was Golden limo driver

EAGLE COUNTY — County authorities have identified the man who died Sunday in a multi-car accident after he exited his parked SUV on Interstate 70 in Avon.

Jimmy O'Brien Tolve, 50, a limousine driver from Golden, died of internal injuries on the scene, said Eagle County Coroner Kara Bettis.

“It appears he got smashed between the limo and the truck,” said Bettis, who couldn’t say why Tolve had exited the car.

Four vehicles were involved in a chain-reaction crash at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday on eastbound I-70 either just before or after Tolve was struck, Avon Police Chief Jeff Layman said Sunday. Two women were transported to Vail Valley Medical Center with minor injuries, Layman said.

Eastbound I-70 was closed from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. because of the accident. A snowstorm caused dangerous conditions on roads throughout the Vail Valley Sunday.

Amy Dunlap, of Carbondale, was one of the last people who saw Tolbe alive. Tolbe, who drove limousines for the Isle of Capri Casino in Blackhawk, died soon after dropping Dunlap in Carbondale.

Dunlap and her husband had visited the casino.

“He was a nice guy, obviously he would do anything for everyone and that’s what he was doing when he died,” said Dunlap, who believes Tolve was helping someone when he was hit. “We only knew him from driving six hours, but he touched our lives before losing his.”

Avon Police and the Colorado State Patrol are investigating the crash.

Staff writer Veronica Whitney can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 454 or vwhitney@vaildaily.com.



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