Lisa Adrienne Lea, Melachi Duane Darnell Brown face manslaughter charges for crashing, killing 6 road workers: cops

Two Maryland suspects face manslaughter and negligent homicide charges after crashing into each other in a highway construction zone, killing six road workers in March.

Maryland State Police said Lisa Adrienne Lea, 54, of Randallstown, and Melachi Duane Darnell Brown, 20, of Baltimore, were indicted Monday on charges associated with the deaths of the highway workers.

Both suspects were indicted on six counts each of manslaughter, negligent homicide, and causing the death of a vulnerable individual while operating a motor vehicle, and single counts of conducting an unsafe lane change, speeding, failing to control speed to avoid a collision, following a vehicle too closely, negligent driving and aggressive driving.

Lea was also charged with driving under the influence.

According to police, a preliminary investigation indicates Lea was driving a 2017 Acura TLX at about 12:40 p.m. on March 22, when she attempted to change lanes.

As she changed lanes, police allege, her vehicle was believed to have struck the front corner panel of a Volkswagen Passat driven by Brown.

The collision caused Lea’s car to lose control, drive through a barrier to the work zone, and overturn in an area of the left shoulder where construction crews were working.

When emergency personnel arrived at the crash, they pronounced six of the workers dead.

Police identified the deceased as 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; and Sybil Lee Dimaggio, 46, of Glen Burnie.

State police added that once the crash team completed its investigation into the incident, the findings were handed over to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, which determined the charges against Brown and Lea.

Brown was arrested Monday and released to home detention following an appearance in court.

Lea surrendered on Wednesday morning at the Maryland State Police Golden Ring Barrack, where she was processed.