Inmate Dies from Inhalling Toulene's Toxic Vapours

[Guest guest]

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_806640,00

..html

Jeffco jail trusty inhaled toxic fumes, coroner finds

By Charley Able, News Staff Writer

GOLDEN -- An inmate found dead while on a work crew at the Jefferson County

Jail died after inhaling toxic vapors, according to an autopsy.

Dirk Bolis, 36, was part of the inmate landscaping crew of trusties at the

jail when another inmate found him on the ground about 10 a.m. July 31.

The autopsy showed Bolis had inhaled toluene vapors, said Triena Harper,

chief deputy coroner.

An investigation revealed the trusties had access to chemicals stored in a

shed at the jail, possibly including a substance containing toluene,

sheriff's office spokeswoman Jacki Tallman said Tuesday.

Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid that occurs naturally in crude oil and

in the tolu tree. It also is produced in refining gasoline.

The chemical is used in making paints, paint thinners, lacquers, fingernail

polish, adhesives and rubber.

The inmate who discovered Bolis called a civilian supervisor, who then

called on jail medical personnel. Efforts to revive Bolis were unsuccessful

and he was taken to Lutheran Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Bolis was serving a one-year term for drunken driving and driving under

revocation.

" It is sad, very sad because I think you can assume that Mr. Bolis did not

mean to kill himself that day by doing what he apparently did, " Tallman

said.

August 22, 2001