A Lyft driver accused of refusing to let two women out of his car during a heated fare dispute in Woodbridge has turned himself in to police, four days after the encounter left the pair briefly trapped on a residential street. Adar Bulut, 25, of Falls Church, surrendered to Prince William County Police on Thursday and now faces two counts of abduction along with a reckless driving charge.
According to DC News Now, the ordeal began when a 32-year-old woman and a 25-year-old woman ordered a Lyft to drive them home from an event in Maryland. Investigators say Bulut offered the women a discounted rate if they paid him directly, then argued with them over the cost of the ride once they were in Virginia. Police responded to the 2700 block of Noble Fir Court in Woodbridge around 12:33 a.m. on September 6, where officers say Bulut refused to let the passengers exit the vehicle before driving a short distance down the road and eventually letting them out, per the station's report.
No physical injuries were reported during or after the encounter, according to Country Legends 88.5, which detailed the timeline of the confrontation and the ages of the two victims. Police had not found Bulut, and arrest warrants were issued before he ultimately surrendered, as reported by Daily Voice.
Off-App Cash Deal Sits at the Center of the Case
The Washington Times reports that Bulut, described in warrants as 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, picked up the riders in Maryland before crossing state lines into Virginia. That detail matters because Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles regulations governing rideshare companies prohibit drivers from soliciting or accepting cash fares outside the digital platform.
Lyft's own Terms of Service similarly forbid drivers from requesting direct cash payments. A Lyft spokesperson told The Washington Times that the company reached out to offer support to the rider while standing ready to assist law enforcement.
What Bulut Is Facing in Court
The charges in the case include two counts of abduction. Bulut also faces a reckless driving charge.
The case lands amid a broader statewide push to tighten rideshare oversight. In May 2026, Virginia lawmakers passed House Bills 1273 and 1469, establishing stricter safety standards, driver vetting requirements, and identity verification mandates for rideshare services operating in the Commonwealth beginning July 1, 2026, according to the Virginia State Capitol.
Rideshare Passenger Safety Concerns
Regional concerns over rideshare passenger safety have surfaced across the DC-Maryland-Virginia area, including a May 2026 Maryland court ruling that sentenced a rideshare offender to 40 years in prison for multi-jurisdictional carjackings and passenger abductions, as previously reported by Hoodline.
Bulut's arrest shifts the case from an active manhunt to pending court proceedings in Prince William County. Investigators have not indicated whether additional charges are expected, and it remains unclear when Bulut will next appear before a judge.
