Man Sentenced For Vehicle Crash That Killed Six On I-695

He was travelling around 111 mph at the time of the crash.

Baltimore, Md. (BW)- One man involved in a vehicle collision that killed six construction workers on the inner loop of Interstate 695 will spend 18 months in prison following a plea deal.

21-year-old Melachi Brown was sentenced in Towson Circuit Court Thursday, March 28. Following his release he will spend three years on supervised probation and be required 40 hours of community service.

Initially, Brown’s sentence was set at 60 years in prison.

The accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on March 22, 2023. 55-year-old Lisa Lea was also involved in the crash. She will return to court for her trial beginning April 1.

Both Brown and Lea were charged with six counts of negligent vehicular manslaughter and other related offenses. Official documents state Lea had drugs in her system and blacked out while driving.

The two were travelling over 100 miles per hour through a construction zone where the posted speed limit is 55 mph. Lea attempted to merge in front of Brown, striking his vehicle. The collision caused Lea’s vehicle to spin out and travel through a concrete barrier where six construction workers were.

The construction workers killed are identified as Carlos and Jose Escobar from Frederick, Mahlon Simmons the second and Mahlon Simmons the third of Union Bridge, Rolando Ruiz of Laurel, and Sybil DiMaggio of Glen Burnie.