Prosecutors say a Bellevue man turned his car into a weapon in a deadly hit-and-run on February 28 at the Bellevue Family YMCA parking lot. An 88-year-old woman was struck, carried on the hood for more than 100 feet, then run over, and she later died. The suspect was arrested days afterward and is also accused of two additional hit-and-run attacks in Tacoma that same day.
The incident and raw video clips are laid out in a TV package that walks viewers through court filings and police footage, according to KIRO 7. Charging papers cited in that coverage say investigators relied on YMCA surveillance video and a bystander’s dashcam to track the car back to a Bellevue resident. Prosecutors told the station they asked the court to weigh the defendant’s prior contacts with law enforcement when deciding bond and pretrial detention.
Surveillance timeline and attack
Video from the parking lot shows a white Toyota Camry pulling in around 6:45 a.m., then backing out and circling before lining up with a person using a walker and accelerating, court documents and media reports say. The victim is seen on the hood for roughly 120 feet. Law&Crime reviewed filings that describe the Camry braking, the woman falling in front of the vehicle, and the car then allegedly running over her. Witnesses at the scene told reporters they first assumed the figure on the hood was a dummy until the car struck her again.
Charges, bail and court schedule
King County prosecutors have charged 68-year-old Mark Alexander Adams with first-degree murder and felony hit-and-run and asked a judge to set bail at 5 million dollars, FOX 13 Seattle reports. Prosecutors say Adams then drove south and allegedly hit two pedestrians in Tacoma later that same day, leaving one with a spinal fracture. According to the station, Adams was arrested in Port Townsend and is scheduled to appear in King County court on Monday, March 9, for arraignment.
Earlier incidents and a hospital escape
Court filings describe an active protection order out of King County and allege Adams stalked his elderly mother and once held the couple at knifepoint. Prosecutors pointed to those incidents while pushing for a high bond, according to KIRO 7. The same filings note that about a decade ago Adams and another patient escaped from Western State Hospital and were later recaptured. Prosecutors say that history adds to their concern for public safety as the case proceeds.
What officials and the YMCA say
The YMCA told local outlets it was “shocked and saddened” by the woman’s death, praising first responders and offering support to members and staff in the aftermath, per FOX 13 Seattle. Police and prosecutors say the investigation is still active as they review video and other evidence to determine whether additional charges are warranted.
Legal implications
Under Washington law, murder in the first degree is a class A felony, and a conviction can carry a sentence of life imprisonment, according to RCW 9A.32.040. At arraignment, the court will decide whether Adams remains behind bars or is released pending trial. Prosecutors have told the court they consider him a danger to the community and have requested the 5 million dollar bail hold. The case remains open, and investigators say they plan to bring additional evidence forward in upcoming hearings.
