Man dies after driving erratically, crashing into tree off State Route 3

A Tacoma man died Thursday afternoon after driving erratically then crashing into tree off State Route 3 near Grapeview in Mason County.

The Washington State Patrol responded at 3:30 p.m. June 29 to the single-vehicle crash. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

WSP trooper Katherine Weatherwax said the 67-year-old Tacoma man was driving erratically when he crossed into oncoming traffic then continued on, crashing into a tree and other roadside debris on the other side of the highway. His car then caught on fire.

Drugs and alcohol were not involved in the incident. Both directions of traffic were blocked for some time, and the Department of Transportation assisted with setting up alternative routes.

This story was originally published June 30, 2023 at 7:57 AM.

Ty Vinson

The Olympian

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Ty Vinson covers the City of Olympia and keeps tabs on Tumwater and other communities in Thurston County. He joined The Olympian in 2021. Before that, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. In college, he worked as an intern at the Northwest Indiana Times, the Oregonian and the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam Fellow. Support my work with a digital subscription