Bail set at $100,000 for driver in fatal Highway 510 crash

Bail was set at $100,000 Wednesday for Christopher C. Wade, the man accused of causing a crash that killed an Olympia motorcyclist and injured one of Wade’s three children Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock released the identity of the motorcyclist Wednesday. Danny Knowles, 33, died in the crash.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor found probable cause for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault charges against Wade during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing.

Wade was emotional during his appearance, bursting into tears at one point.

The state sought bail of $250,000, pointing to the facts of the case: a man has died and a child suffered a concussion and laceration, Thurston County deputy prosecutor Joe Wheeler said.

Public defender Jim Shackleton countered that Wade has no criminal history.

Tabor settled on $100,000 bail. He also ordered that Wade not be allowed to drive without an ignition interlock device. He also is to have no contact with the victim’s family or the one child that was injured. He did not order no contact for the other children.

The crash happened about 8:20 p.m. Tuesday on state Route 510 at Rockcress Drive Southeast. State Patrol said Wade’s Mazda sedan was eastbound on Route 510 and turning left onto Rockcress Drive when it struck the motorcyclist heading west on Route 510.

Inside the Mazda were three children, ages 11, 8 and 1. The 8-year-old was injured and taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

According to charging documents, Wade allegedly told state patrol detectives that he drank four tallboy beers between 2 and 8 p.m. Tuesday on an empty stomach and felt “buzzed.”

Arraignment is set for April 23.

This story was originally published April 10, 2019 at 5:36 PM.