Officials release identity of driver in fatal vehicle crash into house

Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Aldo Fusaro has confirmed the identity of the individual who was killed Nov. 21 in a vehicle crash in Bellingham.

Dylan Matakis, 21, from Bellingham was declared dead after striking a house with the vehicle. Fusaro told The Herald the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.

The collision caused significant damage to the residence around 11:20 p.m. in the 2500 block of Elm Street. No other injuries were reported, and Matakis was the only person in the vehicle.

First responders to the incident discovered a gas leak in the home and evacuated the building, according to Bellingham Fire Capt. Dustin Michaelis. Cascade Natural Gas was contacted after the discovery.

Jack Belcher

The Bellingham Herald

360-715-2206

Jack Belcher covers transportation and recreation for The Bellingham Herald. He graduated from Central Washington University with a degree in digital journalism in 2020 and joined the staff in September 2022. Belcher resides in Bellingham.