Two Motorists Charged With Negligent Manslaughter In Baltimore Beltway Crash That Killed Six Workers

BALTIMORE COUNTY - On Monday, indictments were handed down to the two motorists involved in the tragic Baltimore Beltway accident that claimed the lives of six construction workers.

Melachi Duane Darnell Brown, aged 20, and Lisa Adrienne Lea, aged 54, face multiple charges, including negligent manslaughter.

The fatal collision occurred on March 22 on Interstate 695 when Brown, driving a Volkswagen Jetta, crashed into Lea's Acura TLX as she tried to switch lanes within a construction zone. The impact caused the Acura to crash into the construction area through a break in the barriers, hitting the workers.

Brown was apprehended on Monday by Maryland State Police, while Lea is still being sought, according to Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger. After spending a night at the Baltimore County Detention Center, Brown was placed on house arrest following a bail review on Tuesday afternoon.

Video footage from a state transportation camera shows a gray Acura colliding with a white Volkswagen while trying to merge into the far left lane of the Baltimore Beltway before swerving into the work area.

Tragically, all six workers were declared dead at the accident scene.

Concrete General lost five of its employees in the accident: Rolando Ruiz, 46, of Laurel; brothers Carlos Orlando Villatoro Escobar, 43, and Jose Armando Escobar, 52, both from Frederick; and father and son duo, Mahlon Simmons III, 31, and Mahlon Simmons II, 52, both from Union Bridge. The sixth victim was Sybil Lee DiMaggio, 46, from Severna Park, who worked as an inspector for KCI Technologies.