Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide Faces Court Hearing for Deadly Seattle Bus Crash

Extended Details Emerge in Belltown Incident

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Seattle, Washington – The man accused of causing a fatal King County Metro bus crash in Belltown on November 4 is set to appear in court on Monday morning. Adam Abelson, aged 31, is facing charges of vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and driving without a valid license. His bail has been set at $550,000.

Abelson, who has an extensive criminal history with over 50 outstanding arrest warrants, was driving his red sedan southbound on Fifth Avenue when the collision occurred. The King County Metro bus was traveling eastbound on Battery Street. The impact caused the bus, which was carrying 14 passengers, to veer off the road and crash into a vacant building.

The tragic incident resulted in the death of 28-year-old Amanda Joelle Schneider, who suffered multiple blunt force injuries. According to the King County Medical Examiner, Schneider was outside the building when the bus was attempting to come to a stop.

Reckless Speed and Red Light Violation

Prosecutors allege that Abelson was speeding well above the 25 mph limit and failed to slow down or stop at a solid red light at the intersection with Battery Street. As a result of the crash, 11 passengers and the bus driver sustained injuries.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene, Abelson was found unconscious and had to be extracted from the driver’s seat of his sedan. Court documents reveal that drug paraphernalia was discovered on the front passenger seat, raising suspicion of recent drug consumption. Abelson was immediately transported to the hospital, and his blood tests are currently being examined by the Washington State Patrol toxicology laboratory.

Prior Criminal and Traffic Offenses

A review of Abelson’s criminal and traffic history reveals convictions for hit-and-run, second-degree vehicle prowling, false statements to a public servant, over 10 thefts, and retail theft, among others. Presently, he is also facing a pending case for “attempting to elude,” which involved speeding away from a police officer and disregarding a red light in downtown Seattle. Bail for that charge has been set at $50,000.

The prosecution highlights that Abelson had multiple warrants from Issaquah, Bellevue, Tacoma, and Seattle, including charges of driving under the influence, receiving stolen property, and escaping community custody at the time of the incident.

Public Safety Concerns and Flight Risk

Prosecutors argue that Abelson poses a significant threat to public safety and is likely to flee if released. They emphasize that he has a history of over 50 warrants issued for his arrest, indicating a pattern of disregarding court appearances.

The court hearing on Monday will shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic Seattle bus crash and determine the course of legal action against Adam Abelson.