Fire truck thief goes on rampage in Everett, WA, damaging 14 vehicles
Thief steals Everett fire truck, smashes 14 cars
A thief stole a truck from Everett Firefighters who were on a medical call Friday night. Police & Fire officials say that suspect then took the truck on a rampage, smashing into 14 cars.
EVERETT, Wash. - Multiple cars were left mangled Friday night after someone stole a fire truck from the Everett Fire Department and reportedly sped through town. The suspect was not found after fleeing authorities.
Timeline:
Firefighters were responding to a medical emergency on Hoyt Avenue on July 18 when someone hopped in the fire truck and sped off through the streets of northern Everett, according to EFD.
The driver plowed into multiple cars in the residential area, also taking out several areas of landscaping and street signage before EFD says the suspect fled on foot. Authorities set up a perimeter zone and deployed K09 units, but were not able to catch the suspect.
The backstory:
Firefighters report heading out to get back in the fire engine around 11 p.m. and realizing the truck was not there. It was about the same time when the first of the 911 calls came in—this one was for a hit-and-run of two vehicles.
One minute later, more reports came in of a second batch of hit-and-runs involving two more vehicles further down Hoyt Avenue.
A few minutes later, witnesses called in reports amounting to 10 damaged cars on Marine View Drive.
The 2018 fire truck sustained significant damage and has been taken out of service, according to EFD.
What they're saying:
"The Camaro was the first car it hit," said Joseph Latshaw, who had his truck destroyed. "That’s the front end of my truck," said Latshaw.
Latshaw and others captured the aftermath on video. His pride and joy, a lovingly restored vintage truck, was one of the casualties.
"I had it for 35 years, and it was sad to see it go that way," said Latshaw. "You can see the marks on the curb over there where it slid over, and it bent the front steering on it."
The yellow Camero that was damaged belonged to John Waleithner. It was only when he saw a picture of the car Saturday did he know what happened to it.
"Oh wow, yeah that’s it. They demolished it didn’t they?", said Wahleithner. "I’m devastated, it’s the only car we had, I have surgery coming up Monday and no way to get there."
Another neighbor described what he saw late into Friday night as the chaotic scene unfolded.
"Ran into the mailbox, ran into the retaining wall right there," said Cody Hurwitz, a neighbor.
"Just started nailing cars right there- boom," said Charlie Mosiman. "A lot of them are down in a pile under this fire truck."
He says most of the cars looked to be a total loss.
"They weren’t wrecked they were demolished," said Mosiman.
Everett first responders will evaluate policies after fire engine theft
As for how it happened, fire and police spokesperson, Rachael Doniger, says its common to keep fire engines running.
"Our fire apparatus are left running because there is a large draw on the battery system with the light bars and equipment," said Doniger, Everett Fire & Everett Police Public Information Officer.
She says it's still unclear how they got in.
"I don’t know how he got in," said Doniger. "We are evaluating our policies about leaving an engine running and locked or unlocked."
What you can do:
Everett Police Department continue to investigate the vehicle theft and the series of collisions. Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact the Everett Police Department.
Stolen fire truck rampage in Everett, WA on July 18, 2025
The Source: Information in this story came from the Everett Fire Department.
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