A 27-year-old Shelton man died Wednesday in a three-vehicle collision on U.S. 101 in Mason County.
Aparicio Mendoza Matias died at the scene of the collision, according to a Washington State Patrol Press memo. He reportedly did not wear a seat belt.
The memo lists the cause of the collision as "driving under the influence" of drugs or alcohol.
The incident occurred about 6:25 p.m. on U.S. 101 near State Route 3. Matias was driving south in a 2002 Volkswagen Passat behind a 2020 Jeep Wrangler. At one point, he allegedly struck the rear end of the Wrangler and lost control.
State Patrol believes Matias' Passat crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the front end of a 2004 Audi TT that was traveling north, according to the memo.
Matias' Passat came to rest in the northbound lanes of the highway, just north of State Route 3. Meanwhile, the Wrangler stopped on the right shoulder of the southbound lanes and the Audi came to a stop on the right shoulder of the northbound lanes.
A 19-year-old Olympia resident rode in the vehicle with Matias, according to the State Patrol, but he wore his seatbelt and was not injured. The drivers of the other vehicles reportedly were injured but wore their seat belts.
A 60-year-old Shelton woman who drove the Wrangler called 911 after the incident and was later transported to MultiCare Capital Medical Center in Olympia.
Medics also transported the Audi driver, a 64-year-old Shelton woman, to Mason General Hospital in Shelton.
Matias's Passat and the Audi were both totaled by the collision, according to the memo.
