Car damaged in chase to get new life
On Oct. 4, a sporty blue coupe became famous for being stolen.
The car, a 1994 Subaru SVX, garnered the attention of television viewers throughout the region when news helicopters followed its every move as it wove its way through the Eastside, pursued by police from several jurisdictions.
The incident began about 3:20 p.m. when Bellevue police responded to a car prowl in the 14700 block of Southeast 15th Place. The prowl led to a two-hour chase along Interstate 405 and several surface streets. Speeds reached 100 mph.
The chase also took the stolen Subaru across Wayne Golf Course in Bothell and culminated with the car's driver being tackled by Kirkland police near a junior-high school.
The driver, Ryan James Wade-Everett, is in King County jail awaiting trial on several charges, including residential burglary, first-degree attempted theft, attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and reckless endangerment.
According to court documents, Wade-Everett said he had to steal a car to get to a Bellevue appointment with his probation officer.
When Kirkland police finally stopped the car, every body panel had been hit and the engine and brakes were so hot they were smoking.
That left the Subaru's owners, Paul and Katy Malm, trying to figure out what to do with the destroyed SVX. So they listed it on eBay.
The first time the car was listed, it generated national publicity and a lot of bogus offers, Katy Malm said.
A second listing, however, was more successful, with the car selling for about $1,000 to a Seattle-area buyer who plans to restore it.
The publicity also led several SVX owners to offer to sell their own cars as replacements. Paul Malm bought one of them, a 1997 SVX with only 30,000 miles on it.
"It's going to last him a long time," his wife said. "He wanted nothing better than to get another one."
Peyton Whitely: 206-464-2259 or pwhitely@seattletimes.com