Driver In Baltimore Beltway Crash That Killed 6 To Take Plea Deal: Report

BALTIMORE, MD — The woman charged in connection with a high-speed crash on Interstate 695 that left six highway workers dead agreed to a plea deal that would make her guilty of manslaughter, according to a report.

As part of the deal, Lisa Adrienne Lea will plead guilty to six counts of negligent vehicular manslaughter — one for each victim — and serve a 10-year sentence with four years suspended, the Baltimore Banner reported.

Lea's plea hearing is scheduled for Tuesday morning, the report said.

A second driver, Melachi Brown of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of negligent vehicular manslaughter in January 2024. Brown was given a 60-year prison sentence, with all but 1 1/2 years suspended.

Before the crash, Lea was driving a 2017 Acura on the I-695 inner loop near Interstate 70 when she attempted to change lanes, according to police. As she did, police said her vehicle hit the front corner panel of a Volkswagen driven by Brown. The impact caused Lea to lose control of the car before crashing into a highway work zone, police said.

According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board, the Acura passed through an opening in the concrete barriers separating the work zone from the highway travel lanes. As the car traveled through the work zone, it struck miscellaneous construction materials and the workers, overturning before it stopped.

Emergency personnel pronounced six workers dead on the scene, police said.

Those killed in the crash were:

• Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel
• Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, of Frederick
• Jose Armando Escobar, 52, of Frederick
• Mahlon Simmons III, 31, of Union Bridge
• Mahlon Simmons II, 52, of Union Bridge
• Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie

Lea was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Center for treatment, according to authorities. Police said Brown stopped his car north of the scene on I-695, where it became disabled. He was not injured.

The NTSB said speed likely contributed to the crash. The posted speed limit in the work area was 55 mph, the report said.

The Baltimore Banner obtained video of the crash, which shows both cars speeding when one moved into the far-left lane, hit the other vehicle, lost control and flipped into the construction zone.

Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger indicted Lea on 28 counts, including a charge claiming she was driving while under the influence of drugs.

Prosecutors said Lea had marijuana and five prescription medications in her system at the time of the crash, according to a report. Prosecutors also said she was traveling at 121 mph and weaving in and out of traffic shortly before the collision.

Brown reportedly was driving more than 120 mph before the crash. He was also indicted on 28 charges.